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Journal article
A canon for the Bronze Age?
Catalogues and databases which are easily accessible to all interested parties regardless of their geographical location, occupation, background or purpose, provide a level playing field for research, publication and debate in the archaeology of the bronze age. The establishment of a canon of reliable, illustrated documentation of as many facets...Brindley, A. L.
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Journal article
Information, Interaction and Society
In reviewing the future of Bronze Age research in the final chapter of his immense pan-European survey, Anthony Harding (2000, 435) commented that the sheer scale and density of available data did little to encourage younger scholars. In Britain, the rapid growth of developer funded excavations with PPG 16 since...Roberts, Ben
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Journal article
Bronze Age pottery and settlements in southern England
Pottery is often treated as a poor relation in Bronze Age studies. However ceramics have much to offer. During the last forty years a fairly esoteric subject, dominated mainly by detailed analyses of decorative motifs and the construction of elaborate chronological schemes, has been transformed into a powerful source of...Woodward, Ann
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Journal article
Towards a fuller, more nuanced narrative of Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age Britain 2500-1500 BC
This contribution considers some of the many recent advances in our understanding of Chalcolithic and Bronze Age Britain and uses these to highlight the weak points in our current state of knowledge. Focusing mainly on the period 2500–1500 BC, it concentrates on issues of chronology, human movement, the role of...Sheridan, Alison
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Journal article
Prospects and potential in the archaeology of Bronze Age Britain
This paper argues that although our discipline focuses increasingly on thematic research programmes, period-based approaches remain a valuable way of understanding the particularities of the social practices we study. Different aspects of the archaeological record - including settlement, burial, landscape and material culture - are examined in turn to identify...Brück, Joanna
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Journal article
The Bronze Age climate and environment of Britain
Over the last twenty years there have been tremendous advances in our knowledge of climate change in later British prehistory from a wide variety of proxy-climate sources. This chapter will summarise our present understanding for the period 2000-500 BC and highlight the areas in which further research is required. A...Brown, Tony
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Journal article
The Agenda Gap? Approaches to the Bronze Age in current research frameworks
It is now 60 years since the first formal consideration of future research directions for the British Bronze Age (and other periods) was published. Its purpose was to ensure archaeologists were 'taking the best advantage of all our opportunities, whether for deliberate field-work or excavation, or for turning chance discoveries...Last, Jonathan
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Book
Ceramic Exchange and Indian Ocean Economy (AD 400–1275). Volume II: Indian Ocean Pottery Classification
From AD 500–1000, the Indian Ocean emerged as a global commercial centre, and by around 750–800 a sophisticated trade network had been established involving the movement of goods from Japan and China in the east, to southern Africa and Spain in the west. However, the Indian Ocean’s commercial system has...Priestman, Seth M.N.
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Book
Ceramic Exchange and the Indian Ocean Economy (AD 400–1275) Volume I: Analysis
From AD 500–1000, the Indian Ocean emerged as a global commercial centre, and by around 750–800 a sophisticated trade network had been established involving the movement of goods from Japan and China in the east, to southern Africa and Spain in the west. However, the Indian Ocean’s commercial system has...Priestman, Seth M.N.
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Book
Charles Masson and the Buddhist Sites of Afghanistan: Explorations, Excavations, Collections 1832−1835
From 1833–8, Charles Masson (1800–1853) was employed by the British East India Company to explore the ancient sites in south-east Afghanistan. During this period, he surveyed over a hundred sites around Kabul, Jalalabad and Wardak, making numerous drawings of the sites, together with maps, compass readings, sections of the stupas...Errington, Elizabeth
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Book
Precious Treasures from the Diamond Throne: Finds from the Site of the Buddha’s Enlightenment
The Mahābodhi temple at Bodhgayā in eastern India has long been recognised as the place where the Buddha sat in meditation and attained enlightenment. The site, soon identified as the ‘Diamond Throne’ or vajrāsana, became a destination for pilgrims and a focus of religious attention for more than two thousand...Willis, Michael
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Book
Charles Masson: Collections from Begram and Kabul Bazaar, Afghanistan, 1833–1838
From 1833–8, Charles Masson (1800–1853) was employed by the British East India Company to explore the ancient sites in south-east Afghanistan. In return for funding his exploration of the ancient sites of Afghanistan, the British East India Company received all of Masson’s finds. These were sent to the India Museum...Errington, Elizabeth
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Book
Amaravati: The Art of an Early Buddhist Monument in Context
Buddhism originated in north India and spread to other parts of the subcontinent in the third century BCE. An important shrine was built at Amaravati, probably to house relics of the Buddha brought from the north. Amaravati was enlarged and embellished over several centuries from about 200 BCE, transforming it...Shimada, Akira ; Willis, Michael
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Journal article
'Museological Approaches to the Management of Digital Research and Engagement: The African Rock Art Image Project
The African Rock Art Image Project at the British Museum has documented and disseminated c. 24,000 digital images of rock art from throughout the continent, donated by the Trust for African Rock Art (TARA). The images were registered into the British Museum’s permanent collection and treated as objects in their...Anderson, Helen ; Galvin, Lisa ; de Torres, Jorge
rock art, Africa, archaeology, and Museum studies
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Book
Inscriptions of the Aulikaras and Their Associates
The Aulikaras were the rulers of western Malwa (the northwest of Central India) in the heyday of the Imperial Guptas in the fifth century CE, and rose briefly to sovereignty at the beginning of the sixth century before disappearing from the spotlight of history. This book gathers all the epigraphic...Balogh, Dániel
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Book
Hoards: hidden history
Every so often a remarkable discovery hits the headlines – often an account of treasure hunters striking lucky after years of searching the land, or perhaps a chance find made by a farmer after ploughing. With each new hoard comes a story, or a number of possible stories and unanswered...Ghey, Eleanor
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Book
A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture: Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja - Critical Edition and Translation
This volume is the first in-depth study of a recently discovered Sanskrit dharani spell text from around the 5th century CE surviving in two palm-leaf and three paper manuscript compendia from Nepal. This rare Buddhist scripture focuses on the ritual practice of thaumaturgic weather control for successful agriculture through overpowering...Hidas, Gergely
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Journal article
Rethinking Human Responses to Sea-level Rise: The Mesolithic Occupation of the Channel Islands
This work provides new insights into human responses to and perceptions of sea-level rise at a time when the landscapes of north-west Europe were radically changing. These issues are investigated through a case study focused on the Channel Islands. We report on the excavation of two sites, Canal du Squez...Conneller, Chantal ; Bates, Martin ; Bates, Richard ; Schadla-Hall, Tim ; Blinkhorn, Edward …
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Journal article
Handaxe and non-handaxe assemblages during Marine Isotope Stage 11 in northern Europe: Recent investigations at Barnham, Suffolk, UK
Britain has an important geological, environmental and archaeological record for Marine Isotope Stage 11 (MIS 11), which makes a major contribution to understanding of the human occupation of northern Europe. New fieldwork at Barnham, Suffolk, UK, has identified through improved geological resolution the change in assemblages from simple core and...Ashton, Nick ; Lewis, Simon G. ; Parfitt, Simon A. ; Davis, Rob J. ; Stringer, Chris
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Journal article
Landscapes, environments and societies: The development of culture in Lower Palaeolithic Europe
Identification of cultural groups is rare in the early Palaeolithic due to site formation processes including taphonomy and the effect of raw material and site function. This paper reviews a critical period in Europe at about 400 ka (MIS 11) when we may be able to identify such groups. This period,...Davis, Rob ; Ashton, Nick
Middle Pleistocene; Europe; Lower Palaeolithic culture; Acheulean; handaxes; fire
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Book chapter
Steps from history. The Happisburgh footprints and their connections with the past
Human footprints were discovered at Happisburgh, UK, in 2013. This paper describes their discovery and the difficulties of recording such enigmatic remains in a coastal environment.Ashton, Nick
Happisburgh; human footprints; Lower Paleolithic; Early Pleistocene; Britain; Europe
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Journal article
Hominin footprints from Early Pleistocene deposits at Happisburgh, UK
Investigations at Happisburgh, UK, have revealed the oldest known hominin footprint surface outside Africa at between ca. 1 million and 0.78 million years ago. The site has long been recognised for the preservation of sediments containing Early Pleistocene fauna and flora, but since 2005 has also yielded humanly made flint...Ashton, Nick ; Lewis, Simon G. ; De Groote, Isabelle ; Duffy, Sarah M. ; Bates, Martin …
Happisburgh; human footprints; Lower Paleolithic; Early Pleistocene; Britain; Europe
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Research report
Understanding and Monitoring the Cromer Forest-bed Formation
The Cromer Forest-bed Formation that is exposed on the foreshores of the Suffolk and Norfolk coasts is of critical importance in understanding the earliest human occupation of northern Europe, but is under continual destruction from coastal erosion. This report is the culmination of a four year programme to monitor and...Ashton, Nick ; Lewis, Simon G. ; Parfitt, Simon A. ; Bates, Martin R. ; Bates, Richard …
coastal; environmental studies; geoarchaeology; palaeolithic
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Journal article
The archaeology of persistent places: the Palaeolithic case of La Cotte de St Brelade, Jersey
Excavations at the Middle Pleistocene site of La Cotte de St Brelade, on the island of Jersey in the English Channel, have revealed a long sequence of occupation. The continued use of the site by Neanderthals throughout an extended period of changing climate and environment reveals how, despite changes in...Shaw, Andrew ; Bates, Martin ; Conneller, Chantal ; Gamble, Clive ; Julien, Marie-Ann …
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Journal article
A corroboree for the Countess of Kintore: Enlivening histories through objects
This paper discusses a corroboree performed in Darwin in 1893 to illustrate the potential of British ethnographic collections for researching overlooked historical events. The performance was brought to light after a collection of Aboriginal artefacts used in it was noted and examined by the author in the collections of Marischal...Sculthorpe, Gaye
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Journal article
' A Shield Loaded with History: Encounters, Objects and Exhibitions
This article discusses an Aboriginal shield in the British Museum which is widely believed to have been used in the first encounter between Lieutenant James Cook's expedition and the Gweagal people at Botany Bay in late April 1770. It traces the ways in which the shield became ‘Cook-related’, and increasingly...Nugent, Maria ; Sculthorpe, Gaye
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Book
Babylon: Legend, History and the Ancient City
Babylon: for eons its very name has been a byword for luxury and wickedness. 'By the rivers of Babylon we sat down and wept', wrote the psalmist, 'as we remembered Zion'. One of the greatest cities of the ancient world, Babylon has been eclipsed by its own sinful reputation. For...Seymour, Michael
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Journal article
Identification, Geochemical Characterisation and Significance of Bitumen among the Grave Goods of the 7th Century Mound 1 Ship-Burial at Sutton Hoo
The 7th century ship-burial at Sutton Hoo is famous for the spectacular treasure discovered when it was first excavated in 1939. The finds include gold and garnet jewellery, silverware, coins and ceremonial armour of broad geographical provenance which make a vital contribution to understanding the political landscape of early medieval...Burger, Pauline ; Stacey, Rebecca J. ; Bowden, Stephen A. ; Hacke, Marei ; Parnell, John
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Journal article
Ancient encaustic: An experimental exploration of technology, ageing behaviour and approaches to analytical investigation
The composition of the ancient wax-based painting technique known as encaustic has long been the subject of debate. Ancient sources provide few details of the technology, and modern understanding of the medium is restricted to theoretical interpretation and experimental observation. In this multi-analytical collaborative study, a number of analytical approaches...Stacey, Rebecca J. ; Dyer, Joanne ; Mussell, C. ; Lluveras-Tenorio, A. ; Colombini, M.P. …
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Journal article
Coastal curios? An analysis of ex situ beach finds for mapping new Palaeolithic sites at Happisburgh, UK
Recent archaeological discoveries from exposures of the Cromer Forest-bed Formation at Happisburgh, UK, have radically changed interpretations of the nature and timing of early hominin occupation of northern latitudes, but this in situ archaeology is only one part of the picture. Surface finds of Pleistocene mammalian remains have been found...Bynoe, Rachel ; Ashton, Nick ; Grimmer, Tim ; Hoare, Peter ; Leonard, Joanne …
Happisburgh; human footprints; Lower Paleolithic; Early Pleistocene; Britain; Europe
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Journal article
Human occupation of northern Europe in MIS 13: Happisburgh Site 1 (Norfolk, UK) and its European context
The timing, environmental setting and archaeological signatures of an early human presence in northern Europe have been longstanding themes of Palaeolithic research. In the space of 20 years, the earliest record of human occupation in Britain has been pushed back from 500 ka (Boxgrove) to 700 ka (Pakefield) and then...Lewis, Simon ; Ashton, Nick ; Field, Michael H. ; Hoare, Peter G. ; Kamermans, Hans …
Happisburgh; human footprints; Lower Paleolithic; Early Pleistocene; Britain; Europe
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Journal article
Human occupation of Northern Europe in MIS 13: a response to comments by Gibbard et al. (2019)
In a recent paper (Lewis et al., 2019) we reported the results of geological and archaeological investigations at Happisburgh Site 1. We also considered the significance of the site for understanding the human occupation of northern Europe during the early Middle Pleistocene. In a comment on the paper, Gibbard et...Lewis, Simon ; Ashton, Nick ; Hoare, Peter G. ; Parfitt, Simon
Happisburgh; human footprints; Lower Paleolithic; Early Pleistocene; Britain; Europe
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Journal article
Early Pleistocene human occupation at the edge of the boreal zone in northwest Europe
The dispersal of early humans from Africa by 1.75 Myr ago led to a marked expansion of their range, from the island of Flores in the east to the Iberian peninsula in the west. This range encompassed tropical forest, savannah and Mediterranean habitats, but has hitherto not been demonstrated beyond 45°...Parfitt, Simon ; Ashton, Nick ; Lewis, Simon ; Abel, Richard L. ; Coope, G. Russell …
Happisburgh; human footprints; Lower Paleolithic; Early Pleistocene; Britain; Europe
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Other
Technical Research Bulletin Volume 1
The first volume of the British Museum Technical Research Bulletin focuses on material aspects of the collection, encompassing a wide range of activities, from looking at objects carefully and in depth – often under magnification – during the course of a conservation treatment, to analytical studies to determine the chemical...British Museum
British Museum; scientific research; conservation; museum studies
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Other
British Museum Technical Research Bulletin Volume 2
This second volume of the British Museum Technical Research Bulletin contains articles that address the assessment, examination, treatment and analysis of objects from across the Museum’s collections and beyond, reflecting the diverse role that conservation and scientific activities play within some of the Museum’s wider programmes. The articles focus not...British Museum
British Museum; scientific research; conservation; museum studies
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Other
British Museum Technical Research Bulletin Volume 3
Although all 13 articles in the third volume of the British Museum Technical Research Bulletin present research conducted in collaboration with the Department of Conservation and Scientific Research, the co-authors represent six of the eight curatorial departments in the Museum as well as other museums and universities in the UK...British Museum
British Museum; scientific research; conservation; museum studies
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Other
British Museum Technical Research Bulletin Volume 4
The publication of this fourth volume of the British Museum Technical Research Bulletin coincided with the broadcast of the series A History of the World in 100 Objects, a joint project between the British Museum and BBC Radio 4. Technical examination and analysis were undertaken on many of the objects...British Museum
British Museum; scientific research; conservation; museum studies
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Other
British Museum Technical Research Bulletin Volume 5
This volume presents 10 articles that reflect the chronological depth and geographical breadth of the British Museum collection. From prehistoric Switzerland to twentieth century Oman and from the banks of the Thames to the banks of the Nile, each sheds light on the material aspects of objects as part of...British Museum
British Museum; scientific research; conservation; museum studies
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Other
British Museum Technical Research Bulletin Volume 6
Volume six of the British Museum Technical Research Bulletin comprises nine articles that encompass the examination of material from an extremely broad range of cultures and periods, from ancient Greece, Egypt and Afghanistan to Siberian and Native American objects, by way of voyages of trade and discovery in the latter...British Museum
British Museum; scientific research; conservation; museum studies
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Other
British Museum Technical Research Bulletin Volume 7
The contents of the seventh volume of the British Museum Technical Research Bulletin reflects the diverse collections held by the British Museum. The investigations they describe include not only studies made directly on objects but also encompass research that aims better to understand the history, technology and treatment of objects....British Museum
British Museum; scientific research; conservation; museum studies
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British Museum Technical Research Bulletin Volume 8
The contents of the eighth volume of the British Museum Technical Research Bulletin reflects the diverse collections held by the British Museum, with subjects ranging from an Aleut cape and cap to Ming dynasty paper money. Contents: Technical study of a rare Venetian turquoise glass goblet from the Waddesdon Bequest...British Museum
British Museum; scientific research; conservation; museum studies
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Other
British Museum Technical Research Bulletin Volume 9
The contents of the ninth volume of the British Museum Technical Research Bulletin reflects the diverse collections held by the British Museum, with subjects ranging from the naturally mummified human remains from the Fourth Cataract region of the Nile Valley to some debased silver coinage of Henry VIII. Contents: Early...British Museum
British Museum; scientific research; conservation; museum studies
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Other
British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan (BMSAES) Issue 1
It is with great pleasure that I write a brief introduction to BMSAES 1 (British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan), which is being launched as originally intended in January 2002. Electronic publishing is still rather in its infancy, although, as always, we in the humanities lag some way...British Museum
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British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan (BMSAES) Issue 2
Editorial Issue 2 of BMSAES (British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan) brings into focus one of the great advantages of online publication, the lack of need for a 'critical mass' of material. Only one article was ready for publication, but nonetheless, we have produced an issue consisting just...British Museum
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British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan (BMSAES) Issue 3
Editorial This is now the third issue of BMSAES (British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan) to be produced in 2002. It presents an interesting range of articles, all of which take advantage of aspects of the medium in which it is published. The papers by Favard-Meeks, Judd and...British Museum
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British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan (BMSAES) Issue 4
Editorial There has been a gap of two years since the appearance of an issue of BMSAES (British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan). Electronic publishing in Egyptology is still in its infancy, and there is yet some way to go in persuading colleagues to produce material for electronic...British Museum
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British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan (BMSAES) Issue 5
Editorial There has been another gap, this time of 18 months, since the appearance of an issue of BMSAES (British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan). My comments in the previous editorial about the variability of submissions and the need to maintain standards still apply as strongly as ever....British Museum
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British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan (BMSAES) Issue 6
Editorial The present issue of BMSAES (British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan) presents a new departure from previous issues, as it consists of a set of papers presented at the Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan's 2005 International Colloquium 'Egypt and the Hittites'. The background to this Colloquium...British Museum
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British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan (BMSAES) Issue 7
Editorial The seventh issue of BMSAES (British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan) consists of a paper from the Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan’s International Egyptological Colloquium Egypt's great oases: the archaeology of Kharga, Dakhla and the roads of the West, which took place in July 2006. This...British Museum