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Book
Edmund de Waal: Library of Exile
Edmund de Waal: library of exile has been published to accompany the British Museum and Edmund de Waal’s art installation of the same name. A preface by Booker Prize-nominated author Elif Shakef considers the importance of literature and its capacity to transcend language and borders. The introduction from British Museum...de Waal, Edmund
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Book
Tantra: enlightenment to revolution
Published to accompany the British Museum exhibition Tantra: enlightenment to revolution explores the radical philosophy that transformed the religious, cultural and political landscape of India and beyond. Originating in early medieval India, Tantra has been linked to successive waves of revolutionary thought; from its 6th century transformation of Hinduism and...Ramos, Imma
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Book
Arctic: culture and climate
For more than 25,000 years, Arctic peoples have made warm and hospitable homes in diverse and innovative ways out of ecosystems of ice. For the first time in their long history, however, Arctic communities are facing the real possibility that the foundations of their way of life—sea ice and permafrost—will...Lincoln, Amber ; Cooper, Jago ; Jan Peter, Laurens Loovers
archaeology, museum collections, Indigenous Arctic People, Arctic, climate change, and anthropology
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Book
The social context of technology: non-ferrous metalworking in later prehistoric Britain and Ireland
The Social Context of Technology explores non-ferrous metalworking in Britain and Ireland during the Bronze and Iron Ages (c. 2500 BC to 1st century AD). Bronze-working dominates the evidence, though the crafting of other non-ferrous metals – including gold, silver, tin and lead – is also considered. Metalwork has long...Adams, Sophia ; Brück, Joanna ; Webley, Leo
Prehistoric Britain and Ireland, Metalworking, and Technology
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Book
Mummy Portraits of Roman Egypt: Emerging Research from the APPEAR Project
This research has revitalized scholarly and scientific research into Roman Period Egyptian mummy portraits and provided a critical tool for understanding their production and influence on the history of art.Svoboda, Marie ; Cartwright, Caroline
science, Roman Period, pigments, multispectral imaging, wood, mummy portraits, painted panels, and Egypt
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Book
The Italian coins in the British Museum volume 1: South Italy, Sicily, Sardinia
A catalogue of the British Museum's collection of coins of South Italy, Sicily and Sardinia between 610 and 1860, with introductions on the history of the coinage and the provenance of the collection.Cook, Barrie ; Locatelli, Stefano ; Sarcinelli, Giuseppe ; Travaini, Lucia
British Museum, coinage, Italy, monetary history, and Sicily
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Book chapter
The Early Islamic Trans-Saharan market towns of West Africa
In the early Islamic period, trade across the Sahara escalated to new levels as West African resources, including most significantly gold, were imported on camel caravans to the markets of North Africa and the wider Islamic world trade system, these goods being exchanged for products from North Africa such as...Nixon, Sam
early Islamic, trade, gold trade, West Africa, Sahel, Trans-Saharan, and urbanism
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Book chapter
The Rosetta Stone. Copying an ancient copy
Epigraphy and palaeography are ways of recording, analyzing, and interpreting texts and images. This Handbook discusses technical issues about recording text and art and interpretive questions about what we do with those records and why we do it. The Handbook aims to • discuss current theories with regard to the...Regulski, Ilona
Egypt, Rosetta Stone, and Epigraphy
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Book chapter
The ancient and early medieval coins from the Triconch Palace, c. 2nd century BC to c. AD 600
This report covers the ancient and early Byzantine coins found at the Butrint Foundation's excavations of the Triconch Palace (Butrint / Buthrotum Albania) in the 1990s-early 2000s. The British Museum was represented on the excavations by Sam Moorhead, Richard Abdy and Pippa Pearce MBE (who carried out much conservation). The...Moorhead, Sam
early medieval, Buthrotum, Moorhead, numismatics, Albania, Roman, Byzantine, coins, and Butrint
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Book chapter
Scientific study of the etching process used on ancient carnelian beads
Etched carnelian beads are a striking example of the very high level of technological skills developed by ancient civilisations to create ornament and jewellery. This study combines the characterisation of etched areas of archaeological beads from the British Museum collection with the experimental etching of modern carnelian in laboratory conditions,... -
Book chapter
Sex and sensitivities: exhibiting and interpreting Shunga at the British Museum
For much of the British Museum's long history it has had a difficult relationship with sex, sexuality, and gender diversity. Most museums and galleries have been reticent to display publicly, or meaningfully interpret, objects that explicitly reflect these themes, or which challenge society’s heteronormative ideals. The museum’s special exhibition program...Frost, Stuart
British Museum, interpretation, exhibitions, shunga, gender, sexuality, and visitor research
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Book chapter
Change and transformation: Picasso the printmaker
An analysis of Picasso's activities as a printmaker being dependent on his proximity to printers and their workshops at different periods during his career.Hincelin, Emmanuelle ; Andres, Violette ; Lloyd, Christopher ; Philippot, Emilia ; Robinson, William H. …
collaboration, Picasso, printmaking, and printers
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Book chapter
The results of new scientific analyses of gold bracelets from Taksai-1 and an iron sword from Issyk in the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan
The British Museum held the BP exhibition Scythians: warriors of ancient Siberia from September 2017 to January 2018. Among the many exhibits were several important objects dating from the early Iron Age on loan from the collection of the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, including two gold bracelets...Lang, Janet ; O'Flynn, Daniel ; Mongiatti, Aude ; Yarygin, S. A. ; Satubaldin, A. K.
gold, Issyk, bracelets, akinakes, scientific research, Taksai-1, and Early nomads
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Book chapter
The Early Middle Palaeolithic of Britain and Jersey: reconnecting the Saalian occupations of the Channel Region
The Early Middle Palaeolithic of southern Britain is best represented by the record recovered from within the terraces of the Thames, within which some attempt has been made to correlate particular sites to substage level within MIS 7. It has been suggested that there are particular features of the British...Scott, Beccy ; Ashton, Nick ; Shaw, Andrew ; Pope, Matthew
Jersey, Lithic industry., Early Middle Palaeolithic, Channel River, and Southern England
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Book chapter
Foreword to Living with Art
This foreword to the publication by Catherine Daunt outlines how the author became involved with the collector Alexander Walker (1930-2003) and the circumstances leading to his Bequest of his collection of modern works on paper to the British MuseumCoppel, Stephen
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Book chapter
Understanding wood choices for ancient panel painting and mummy portraits in the APPEAR project through scanning electron microscopy
In Roman-period Egypt, it is clear that despite maintaining the traditional practice of mummification, there was a fashion for funerary portraiture that echoed Greek and Roman traditions in the Mediterranean region. The excellent condition of preservation of the wood anatomy of these mummy portraits enabled an unexpected revelation from their...Cartwright, Caroline
Egypt, scanning electron microscopy, timber, Roman period, wood anatomy, and mummy portraits
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Book chapter
The sound of little feet at the British Museum
The British Museum is an iconic space housing objects from across time and around the world. As part of the public programme the Schools and Young Audiences Team run under 5s provision using different spaces and objects as inspiration for activities which encourage participation, exploration and enjoyment. In this chapter...Kelland, Kate ; Hoare, Katharine
learning, under5s, creative, activities, Museum, and galleries
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Book chapter
A passion for prints: Netherlandish engravings in an early sixteenth-century prayer book
An extraordinary prayer book manuscript dated c. 1530, recently acquired by the Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam), shows that printed images became recognized as a collectible category of art much earlier than is commonly understood. The manuscript includes 16 masterfully hand-coloured engravings by Netherlandish printmakers, including Lucas van Leyden’s 12-print series, the Engraved...Horbatsch, Olenka
Lucas van Leyden, manuscript, hand-coloured, engravings, Netherlandish, modified prints, etchings, Frans Crabbe, and prints
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Book chapter
Touching the past: the Breadalbane Brooch and its bearers
The Breadalbane Brooch is a highlight of the British Museum’s early medieval Insular collection. A lavish accessory, it writhes with interlace and glitters with gold and glass gems. Encountering it on display, its first impact is as an art object rather than something that was made and used by real...Brunning, Sue
Symbolism, Zoomorphic, Pictish, Insular, Scotland, Irish, Picts, Celtic, Modification, Brooch, Early Medieval, Ireland, Dress, Use-wear, and Metalwork
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Book chapter
Two sides of the coin: from Sophytes to Skanda-Karttikeya
This volume provides a thorough conspectus of the field of Graeco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek studies, mixing theoretical and historical surveys with critical and thought-provoking case studies in archaeology, history, literature and art. The chapters from this international group of experts showcase innovative methodologies, such as archaeological GIS, as well as providing...Jansari, Sushma
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Book chapter
Defining a Romano-Egyptian painting workshop at Tebtunis
The collections of the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley, include eleven mummy portraits excavated between 1899 and 1900 from Tebtunis, Egypt. This group constitutes one of the largest assemblages of Roman-period mummy portraits to remain both together and unrestored since excavation; as such, it presents...Williams, Jane ; Cartwright, Caroline ; Walton, Marc
painting, Egypt, Tebtunis, mummy portraits, scientific research, wood anatomy, and pigments
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Exhibition catalogue
El sueño americano: del pop a la actualidad
Catalogue for the international touring exhibition The American Dream: pop to the presentCoppel, Stephen ; Daunt, Catherine ; Tallman, Susan
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Journal article
Coin hoards from England, Scotland and Wales 2020
An annual summary of coin hoards from England, Scotland and Wales found up to the end of the year before the year of publication of the journal.Ghey, Eleanor ; Andrews, Murray
Medieval, Iron Age, hoards, coins, archaeology, Early Medieval, Roman, Post-Medieval, and numismatics
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Journal article
Mapping archaeometallurgical data of the Iberian Copper Age: different ways to look at a big picture
Traditionally, archaeometallurgical projects have visualised information through distribution maps of the find spots for different metal compositions or types of objects. However, this is limiting, and more innovative styles of communication are required to engage with more dynamic technological questions such as what underpins the use and circulation of metal....Perucchetti, L. ; Montero-Ruiz, I. ; Bray, P.
Iberian peninsula, Copper age, Data visualisation, Archaeometallurgy, and GIS
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Journal article
What is a dagger? A metallurgical interpretation of three metal daggers from western Switzerland dated from the Late Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age
The role of daggers in prehistoric European society has been long debated. Within this discussion, we may add some hints to understand the human choices behind daggers’ production, in a study in combination with the University of Oxford and the University of Geneva, that combines their shape, the metal used...Perucchetti, Laura ; Northover, J. Peter ; David-Elbiali, Mireille
Late Neolithic, Elemental composition, Daggers, Early Bronze Age, and Microstructure
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Journal article
Ein Leben mit dem Schiff. Nachruf auf Karin Hornig (2.8.1963-23.11.2020)
Obituary for Dr Karin Hornig, expert on ancient seafaring, cross-cultural exchange and the history of animals in antiquity.Ebbinghaus, Susanne
Ancient seafaring, Underwater archaeology, and Animals in ancient society
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Journal article
The Carolingian cup from the Vale of York Viking hoard: origin of its form and decorative features
In 2007, near Harrogate, in North Yorkshire, a Viking-period hoard was discovered with a Carolingian silver-gilt cup. This article examines this cup, highlighting Oriental, Central Asian and classical parallels in both metal and pottery for the cup’s form and decoration. The overall significance of the cup’s iconography has already been...Ager, Barry
Sasanian, Byzantine, and silverware
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Book chapter
Appendix: numismatic and sigillary evidence
Bracey, Robert
Huns, sigillography, and numismatics
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Journal article
Rediscovering famous assemblages: A rare Bronze Age crucible from El Argar, Spain
A rare open shallow crucible from the British Museum collection, excavated at the Bronze Age site of El Argar in south‐east Spain by Louis and Henri Siret, was studied using X‐radiography and scanning electron microscopy. The crucible has relatively thick walls, a spout and a non‐refractory fabric. It was used...Mongiatti, A. ; Montero‐Ruiz, I.
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Book
Masters of the Steppe: the Impact of the Scythians and Later Nomad Societies of Eurasia
Masters of the Steppe: the impact of the Scythians and later nomad societies of Eurasia consists of 45 papers presented at a major international conference held at the British Museum in 2017 on the occasion of the BP exhibition Scythians: warriors of ancient Siberia, both conference and exhibition being jointly...Pankova, Svetlana V. ; Simpson, St John
archaeology, steppe, and Scythians
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Journal article
A multi‑scalar investigation of the colouring materials used in textile wrappings of Egyptian votive animal mummies
Commonly exhibited in museum galleries, animal mummies have been the focus of interest of both visitors and researchers alike. The study of these animal remains not only provides new insights into embalming techniques, but also brings a unique perspective on religious, social and economic practices. Twenty animal mummies are discussed...Tamburini, Diego ; Dyer, Joanne ; Vandenbeusch, Marie ; Borla, Matilde ; Angelici, Debora …
animal mummies; archaeological textiles; organic dyes; tannins; ancient Egypt
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Book
Ancestors, Artefacts, Empire: Indigenous Australia in British and Irish Museums
Museums across Great Britain and Ireland hold Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (collectively referred to as ‘Indigenous’) cultural heritage of exceptional value which is largely unknown, rarely seen and poorly understood. Gifted, sold, exchanged and bartered by Indigenous people, and accepted, bought, collected and taken by travellers, colonists, explorers, missionaries,...Sculthorpe, Gaye ; Nugent, Maria ; Morphy, Howard
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Book
Hokusai: The Great Picture Book of Everything
The accompanying hardback title to the British Museum exhibition Hokusai: The Great Picture Book of Everything. This landmark publication documents a major new discovery of over 100 drawings by the foremost Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai. Acquired by the British Museum in 2020, these previously unpublished drawings had been forgotten for...Clark, Tim
drawings, Japanese art, and Hokusai
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Book chapter
Cipro, fra Torino e Londra. I Cesnola e il British Museum/Cyprus, From Turin to London. The Cesnolas and the British Museum
An overview of the collections of Cypriot artefacts in the British Museum and the Musei Reali di Torino and connections with the Cesnola family.Kiely, Thomas
archaeology and Cyprus
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Book chapter
Mummified human remains from Ancient Egypt and Nubia: an overview and new insights from the British Museum collection
An overview of the mummified human remains from Ancient Egypt and Nubia in the British Museum collection as well as a summary of new insights.Vandenbeusch, Marie ; Antoine, Daniel
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Journal issue
Sudan & Nubia Volume 25
Volume 25 of Sudan & Nubia journal, edited by Julie Anderson with contribution from 49 authorsAnderson, Julie
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Journal article
The Early Bronze Age at Kınık Höyük (Niğde): a preliminary analysis
A preliminary analysis of the Early Bronze Age at of Kınık Höyük-NiğdeHighcock, Nancy ; Matessi, Alvise
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Journal article
Layer by layer: the manufacture of Graeco-Roman funerary masks
Ptolemaic cartonnage masks were produced by layering textiles – or reused papyrus sheets – with plaster and glue. Despite the use of the same basic components, the process of manufacture could vary depending on shape, size, time and place. This article aims to clarify the production methods and the different...Vandenbeusch, Marie ; O'Flynn, Daniel ; Moreno, Benjamin
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Journal article
Pilgrim Badges of St Edmund of East Anglia
It was common for medieval pilgrims visiting holy sites to purchase souvenirs celebrating the cults of local saints and then touch these upon associated relics. Such items not only became signs of the places journeyed to, but also – it was believed – took on mystical properties that might cure...Lewis, Michael
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Journal article
The coin
The article is one of a series on the history of objects and covers the origins and adoption of the coin in ancient and modern societies.Ghey, Eleanor
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Journal article
Provenance reinterpretation of some early Egyptian copper alloy artefacts
This paper presents a new provenance evaluation of recently published Egyptian copper alloy artefacts dating to the Protodynastic and Old Kingdom periods. The excavation context of a Protodynastic chisel from Elkab is considered in detail to provide a nuanced interpretation of its dating. In turn, the broader implications of this...Archaeometallurgy; Copper alloy; Protodynastic Egypt; Old Kingdom Egypt; provenance; lead isotopes
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Journal article
Analytical Pyrolysis and Mass Spectrometry to characterise lignin in archaeological wood
This review describes the capability of analytical pyrolysis-based techniques to provide data on lignin composition and on the chemical alteration undergone by lignin in archaeological wooden objects. Applications of Direct Exposure Mass Spectrometry (DE-MS), Evolved Gas Analysis Mass Spectrometry (EGA-MS), and single and double-shot Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) in archaeological...archaeological wood; lignin; analytical pyrolysis; mass spectrometry
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Journal article
Multi-scale characterization of unusual green and blue pigments from the Pharaonic town of Amara West, Nubia
Pigments from paint palettes and a grindstone excavated from the pharaonic town of Amara West (c. 1300–1050 BCE), which lies between the Second and Third Cataracts of the Nile, were examined using polarized light microscopy, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy with... -
Journal article
Spicing wine at the symposion: fact or fiction? Some critical thoughts on material aspects of commensality in the Early Iron Age and Archaic Mediterranean world
Interpretations of metal graters and pottery tripod bowls as Leitfossils of a trans-Mediterranean ‘orientalizing’ culture of spiced-wine consumption have of late become a staple of scholarship on sympotic banqueting, shaping our perception of ancient wine-drinking and its role in cross-cultural interaction in the first half of the first millennium BC....Villing, Alexandra
Archaic Greece, Symposion, and Foodways
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Journal article
The Hallaton Ingot: silver in Iron Age Britain
This article is a case study of the detailed contextual and scientific analysis of a single object, moving beyond a conventional object biography to consider flows of materials and shifts in meaning and value. The object is a simple triangular silver ingot from the Late Iron Age shrine site at...Farley, Julia
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Journal article
A revised terrace stratigraphy and chronology for the early Middle Pleistocene Bytham River in the Breckland of East Anglia, UK
The Bytham River was one of the major pre-Anglian (MIS 12) rivers of eastern England. Flowing from the Midlands to the East Anglian coast, it has been recognised at numerous sites by its distinctive lithological suite, containing significant quantities of quartzite, quartz and Carboniferous chert that originate from central England....Bytham River; early Middle Pleistocene; UKESR dating; Lower Palaeolithic