Antiquities and Ancient Art

New Book Blasts Israeli Antiquities Authority for Handling of Antiquities Case

A new book entitled L'Affaire des Fausses Reliques, Enquete au Coeur des Trafics de Vestiges Biblique (Paris: Albin Michel, 2005), by French investigative reporter Patrick Jean-Baptiste, blasts the Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA) for its handling of the inquiry into the James Ossuary and other inscriptions alleged to be forgeries. The inquiry has lead to the indictment of five leading figures in the Israeli antiquities market, including prominent collector, dealer, restorer and at least two others.

The book, according to translated excerpts appearing in the July/August 2005 issue of Biblical Archaeology, questions the independence, motives and integrity of the IAA in pursuing its case.  The magazine quotes one passage: "After a two-year inquiry, from the number of dead-end trails, rumors and insinuations, it seems clear that this new affair is a pretext to destroy the Israeli antiquities market as a way of preventing archaeological looting."   The magazine also quotes Jean-Baptiste accusing the IAA of "telling a number of lies and half-truths....They also falsified certain facts."

These sentiments seem consistent with those expressed by many art market insiders familiar with the pending case. Regardless of outcome, this is an ugly case that is being played out in the media and the courts.  Sadly, this is occurring in a market where there has generally been good cooperation between the archaeological community and the licensed antiquities dealer community.

New Artifacts and Data Suggest Britain Not Invaded by Claudius in 43 AD; Means Rewrite of History Books

According to most history books, Britain was invaded in 43 AD under the Emperor Claudius by up to four legions of citizen troops: II Augusta, XIV Gemina, IX Hispana and XX.  This week, new evidence will be unveiled in Britain that will re-write this aspect of Romano-British hostory. Those revealing the evidence, say the 'invasion of Claudius' was little more than a political ploy designed to help the image of a weak emperor.

A series of astonishing archaeological findings of Roman military equipment, to be revealed this week, will prove that the Romans had already arrived decades earlier - and that they had been welcomed with open arms by ancient Britons, according to the Independent newspaper.

The discovery of swords, helmets and armour in Chichester, Sussex, dates back to a period between the late first century BC and the early first century AD- almost 50 years before the supposed invasion. Archaeologists who have studied the finds believe it will turn conventional Roman history taught in schools on its head. "It is like discovering that the Second World War started in 1938," said Dr David Rudkin, a Roman expert leading the work.   Read more.

Russians Puzzled Over Hoard Discovery Containing Hebrew, Ancient Greek and Latin Inscriptions

Archaeologists in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad have uncovered 16th Century jewellery which they say is unlike any found in the area before.

They were found in a 10cm round box during an excavation at the site of a medieval castle in the city.  It contained 11 items made of gold, silver, tin and hematite, covered with hieroglyphs and inscriptions in Hebrew, ancient Greek and Latin.

Archaeologists think the rings and amulets might have belonged to a counsellor of Albrecht, Duke of Prussia, who had an interest both in astrology and black magic.  Read more from the BBC.

Site of Bronze Age Primary Glass-Making Factory Found in Egypt

Scientists reported yesterday the discovery of the first primary glass workshop dating to about 1500 BC in Egypt.

While only about 10% of the workshop area has so far been excavated, the discovery is important because it marks the first time that a large-scale factory for generating glass raw materials from this period has been found. The site was located at Qantir, which is the ancient city of Piramesses, built by Rameses II as the capital of northern Egypt.

Evidence indicates a two-stage process was used at the workshop. First, raw materials such as lime, clay and crushed quartz, were heated inside vessels.  Then the glass was colored, and heated inside cylindrical crucibles at higher temperatures. The result was an ingot-like glass bar which was transported to smaller artistic workshops where it was worked into smaller objects. 

Early Egyptian glass is extremely rare on the market and highly sought after.  Two small Egyptian glass penannular earrings about 1-inch in diameter and dating to the same period at this workshop, sold in 1999 for more than 5x their high estimate. Read More.

Newly Discovered Roman Pottery Kilns Cause Ryder Cup Snag

The substantial redesign of Celtic Manor's Wentwood Hills course to bring it up to scratch for the 2010 Ryder Cup may have to return to the drawing board after a discovery of considerable archaeological importance during the early stages of excavation, according to a Wales news report.

Bulldozers digging into the hillside above Bulmore Road have uncovered two Roman pottery kilns where the new 17th hole had been planned.

A detailed archaeological survey is now under way at the site and may cause the hole to be reshaped on higher ground where huge hospitality tents had been earmarked to make the most of the commanding views afforded by the steep slopes.   Read more.

Statue of 13th Dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh Unearthed at Thebes

A life-sized statue of the 13th Dynasty Pharaoh Neferhotep I has emerged from the ruins of ancient Thebes in Luxor, Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities said on Saturday, as reported by the Discovery Channel this week.

Buried for almost 3,600 years, the six-foot limestone statue shows the "beautiful and good" pharaoh — this is what Neferhotep means — wearing the royal head cloth.

The forehead bears the emblem of a cobra, which pharaohs wore on the crown as a protective symbol: they believed that the cobra would spit fire at enemies.  Read more.

Superb Marble Anatolian 'Stargazer' Idol Sets Record $1.8M Price in New York

Christies hammered down the highest price of the spring antiquities season today with the $1.8-million sale of a beautiful white marble "Stargazer" type idol originally from Anatolia, Turkey.  The idol is less than 8-inches in length and dates to the Chalcolithic Period, circa 3300-2500 BC.

At $1.8-million, the sale was more than double the previous record for these extremely rare idols.  Only about 15 complete examples are known.

Early Bronze Age idols remain one of the areas of strongest interest to collectors inside and outside the antiquities market. It is often remarked by first-time modern viewers of these superb idols that they are 'just like Brancusi,' but it is really the other way around: it is well-known that ancient art exerted a strong influence on these artists, since ancient idols were already on view in European museums or in private collections. Picasso owned a Cycladic idol and is known to have remarked that it was 'better than Brancusi.'

Just six months ago, one of the largest selections of Early Bronze Age idols to come to market in over a decade (a group of 10 Anatolian and closely-related Cycladic Greek idols)  were sold in New York for an approximate total of more than $1.8-million, proving that the appetite for these miniature works of art continues to grow.