[Bonetools] Bone objects publication, and more

[Anne Brundle]

Dear Ariel,

 

It's a vastly important question, we really need a proper discussion
across the whole profession of what constitutes a sufficient catalogue,
and how much effort analysts need to make to trace parallels for objects
they are writing up. 

 

I would want a full catalogue including all 25 pins (etc), to which
reference could be made in the discussion. The catalogue should have
images of every object that has been worked or shows wear that is
believed to be anthropogenic, and can I plead for descriptions written
in sensible detail?

The early days of digitization, when computers had limited memory, have
created many catalogues with concise descriptions that are only of any
use to people looking at the object (and sometimes not even then!). 

 

I hope that helps.

 

Best wishes

Anne

 

Anne Brundle

Curator of Archaeology

The Orkney Museum

Tankerness House

Broad Street

Kirkwall

Orkney

 

 

 

 

________________________________

From: bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu
[mailto:bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu] On Behalf Of Ariel Shatil
Sent: 07 January 2010 08:20
To: bonetools at listserv.niif.hu
Subject: [Bonetools] Bone objects publication, and more

 

Dear colleagues,
I'm working on the publication of the assemblage of bone objects from
our 2008-2009 excavations in Jerusalem. The assemblage ranges from the
Early Roman to the Early Arab periods (1st cent to 11-12th cent CE), and
consists a few hundreds of items, of which about 75% are of Late Roman
context.
As I am new to the discipline of bone objects research, I have a few
dilemmas I would like to hear your opinion about. In general, the big
question is what do you, as bone objects researchers, would expect from
a "complete" publication of bone objects and tools? I will try to break
the question down to smaller ones...
1. Assuming the assemblage consists items of a few periods -  would you
have a different section for each period describing in each one the
finds according to morphology and typology, which on the one hand may
result in describing some object types over and over, but on the other
hand will enhance the differences between the periods in terms of
quantities and morphologies. Or, would you have sections according to
typology in which you will also mention each period, which may produce
the result of 'bluring' the differences between the periods, or even the
disappearance of periods which produced only a few common items from the
publication.
2. As researchers, would you prefer to see a publication of typical
examples, or of the complete assemblage? For example, if I had 25 pins
of the same type, would you prefer the publication (in text and picture)
of one or two of the items, or of all 25 of them.

I would also like to hear your thoughts about our assemblage in general
- In the reports and publications that I have studied from Israel, the
assemblages seems to be quite small. It is hard to say whether this is a
result of neglect of this certain field in the local archaeology, or
whether its just a fact that bone objects are not as common as other
objects. Ayalon's publication of the assemblage from Caesarea is a fine
example of how much one can learn and how complex and varied this field
becomes once things are done right, and it also hints to the first
option - that of neglect. To me, our assemblage seems to be unique in
many terms - for example, some Late Roman loci (rooms) produced as many
as 30-60 bone and Ivory objects, including pins, gaming peaces, inlays
and more. Is that, according to your knowledge, unique - or is it a
common size of assemblage in this period throughout the Levant or Roman
World?    

I would be happy to hear any thought, comments and ideas you have about
the subjects I raised, and in the future I hope to be able to share with
you some pictures of objects I'm having trouble recognizing.

Thank you!

Ariel Shatil
Institute of Archaeology
The Hebrew University, Jerusalem   


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