Antiquities and Ancient Art

1,700-year-old 'Roman Glass' Discovered in East China Tomb

In the "interesting but awaiting more details" category comes a story from China via news services there. According to reports, an ancient Chinese tomb from the eastern part of the country is said to contain Roman glass remains (an example of 1st-2nd century Roman glass currently offered for sale by Fragments of Time is show at right).

The tomb was found during the latest road project in Zhulong Village of Dangtu County in Anhui. Archaeologists believed the tomb was built in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317 - 420). Covered with white mantle rock, the glass remains seem to have ancient Roman shapes and craftsmanship.

According to the local antiquities ministry, the owner of the tomb was possibly from an eminent family of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Besides the "Roman glass," other rare articles including a gold bracelet, a silver ring, a bronze bowl and porcelain were also discovered in the tomb.

Currently, pieces of the "Roman glass" have been sent to the Anhui-based University of Science and Technology of China for further study and analysis, said the local cultural relic department.  If the find is validated, it would provide additional evidence for some small degree of trade contact between the Romans and Chinese.  Such contacts are not entirely unknown. John Boardman commented in his book The Diffusion of Classical Art in Antiquity that a Roman mission to China is documented in the 2nd century AD.

MFA Boston Officially Breaks Ground on Expansion while Enjoying Banner Year of Acquisitions

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, home to one of the country's finest collection of antiquities is expanding in more ways than one. Less than two weeks ago, the museum officially broke ground on a new $305-million expansion that will increase space by 27% when completed in 2010. So far the museum has raised $302-million toward its goal of $500-million to finance the project, in what has been called Boston's largest cultural fund-raising campaign ever.

Even as the museum begins the expansion, its art collection also continues to grow. It is reported that the MFA has accepted 1,842 new works of art in the past year. Included in these acquisitions, according to The Art Newspaper, is a superb Hittite silver drinking vessel dating to 1380 BC in the shape of a fist, and a gilded silver Byzantine pyxis from 6th-7th Century AD Syria.

King Tut Exhibition Leaves LA and Travels to Florida with Rock Star Promotion

Last month we reported on our visit to the King Tut Exhibition at the LACMA. Like any good rock concert, the house lights must come on and the band must move on. So it is with Tut. On November 15, the show ended in LA and the roadies moved in to pack up the 130 objects and sent them on to Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art where they will dazzle fans from December 15 to April 23, 2006.

The show is like a rock event in more ways than one. Behind the exhibition galleries darkened to heighten the mysteriousness of these wonderful and solemn ancient artifacts, lurks the cash register. Megastar rock concert producer AEG LIVE is managing the boy king's 2004-2007 USA Tour. Not surprisingly, you won't get an overfill of mysteriousness....the layout of the galleries is expertly designed to ensure the throngs of history-loving visitors shelling out big bucks for their tickets are swiftly conveyored through the exhibit to the bountifully stocked souvenir shop. I wondered as I was dumped into the shop in LA, how many people actually spend more time in the shop than the exhibit.

According to the Art Newspaper, the exhibition has been assailed as profit-motivated popular entertainment. The LA Times critic Christopher Knight called it "an ethically dubious ode to the cash register." 

It should not be a surprise. The Egyptian government set the tone by slapping a $5-million fee per venue for each of the four USA locations, and refusing to send any additional objects. Cairo apparently has learned well from the agents of American sports heroes that talent is finite and it must be milked for every dime. Exposure is great but costly, and over-exposure is to be avoided. Always hold something back and keep them wanting more.

Not that the exhibition is not worthwhile. Floridians will gladly shell out $30 per ticket for their chance to be whisked through Tut on weekends this winter.  Enjoy the exhibit.  The Egyptian government and AEG appreciate your business.  Just don't linger, the next show is about to begin.  And remember, no cameras allowed....that could cut into sales of the exhibition catalogs.

Foundation of Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria Found; Seventh Wonder of the World

French diving archeologists have discovered the foundation of the ancient lighthouse of Pharos in Alexandria, the seventh wonder of the world, according to reports on RIA Novosti.

Sometimes called the "Pharos of Alexandria" in reference to Pharos the island on which it resided (Also Pharos or Φάρος in greek means lighthouse), the Lighthouse of Alexandria was built in the 3rd century BC.

The director of the Alexandria national museum, Ibrahim Darwish, said recently that the lighthouse, which was destroyed by two earthquakes in the 11th and 14th centuries, had occupied an area of 800 sq m north of the city's eastern harbor. Read the full news item.

Italian Researchers Debunk Common Belief By Finding Remains of Pork-based Diet in Mummy Stomach

Italian researchers have found a pig-related disease in a mummy, squashing a common belief that Ancient Egyptians had a dietary ban on pork, reported Groppo ANSA this week.

Until now historians have found evidence suggesting ancient high priests in Egypt prohibited pig meat, in common with many Middle Eastern peoples who still don't eat pork today.

The researchers recently found the oldest recorded case of a rare disease called cystercosis in the belly of a second-century BC mummy. Cystercosis, which can spark dangerous mood swings and epilepsy, is caused by an intestinal parasite contained in raw or poorly cooked pork.  Full story.

Evidence of Biblical Goliath Found as Scientists Unearth Philistine Inscription Outside Jersaulem

A very small ceramic sherd unearthed by Bar-Ilan University archaeologists digging at Tell es-Safi, the biblical city "Gath of the Philistines", may hold a very large clue into the history of the well-known biblical figure Goliath. The sherd, which contains the earliest known Philistine inscription ever to be discovered, mentions two names that are remarkably similar to the name "Goliath". Tell es-Safi/Gath is located in the southern coastal plain of Israel, approximately halfway between Ashkelon and Jerusalem.

The discovery is of particular importance since the Bible attributes Gath as the home town of Goliath. "Gath of the Philistines," was one of the major cities of the Philistines, the well-known arch-enemies of the Israelites in the biblical text. The archaeological find may also be seen as the first clear extra-biblical evidence that the well-known biblical story of the battle between David and Goliath (and, in particular, the very existence of a figure such as Goliath during the biblical period) may be more than just a legend, according to Prof. Aren Maeir, Chairman of Bar-Ilan University's Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology, who has been directing the excavations since they began in 1996. Prof. Maeir presented his findings last week at the conference of the American Schools of Oriental Research in Philadelphia.

Other recent findings uncovered at the recent excavations at Tell es-Safi include a large assortment of objects of various types which are linked to Philistine culture. Additional remains relating to the siege system constructed by Hazael, King of Aram Damascus around 800 BCE, were revealed, along with extensive evidence of the subsequent capture and destruction of the city by Hazael, as mentioned in Second Kings 12:18. Remains of the Crusader period fortress, Blanche Garde, built after the first Crusade in the mid-twelfth century CE, were also discovered.

Written in archaic "Proto-Canaanite" letters, the inscription found on the sherd, dating to the 10th or early 9th century BCE, contains two non-Semitic names: Alwt and Wlt. Most scholars believe the name Goliath, of non-Semitic origin, is etymologically related to various Indo-European names, such as the Lydian name Aylattes. Following intense examination of the inscription, Prof. Maeir (along with his colleagues Prof. Aaron Demsky, an expert in epigraphy at Bar-Ilan University, and Dr. Stefan Wimmer, of Munich University) has concluded that the two names which appear in the inscription are remarkably similar to the etymological parallels of Goliath.

"It can be suggested that in 10th-9th century Philistine Gath, names quite similar, and possibly  identical, to Goliath were in use," says Prof. Maeir. "This chronological context from which the inscription was found is only about 100 years after the time of David according to the standard biblical chronology. Thus, this appears to provide evidence that the biblical story of Goliath is, in fact, based on a clear cultural realia from, more or less, the time which is depicted in the biblical text, and recent attempts to caim that Goliath can only be understood in the context of later phases of the Iron Age are unwarranted."

While the letters are Semitic, the names appearing in the inscription are Indo-European (the linguistic family of ancient Greek and related languages). It is assumed by most scholars that the Philistines migrated to the Levant from somewhere in the Aegean region. On their arrival, they brought with them assorted Aegean cultural facets. With time, their culture became more and more effected by the local cultures, slowly incorporating local elements. This inscription, with Semitic script and Indo-European
names, is among the earliest hard evidence showing this process.

Part of Ancient Wall that Encircles Jerusalem Called Unstable by Israeli Antiquities Authority

Part of the historic ancient wall which encircles the Old City of Jerusalem has become unstable and in need of repair, according to a report from the International Press Center of the Palestenian National Authority which quotes sources of the Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA).

Ma'ariv, an Israeli newspaper, quoted these sources as saying "an area of 380m.of the Old City wall may fall down before long, in addition, there is another part of the wall of length measures around one Km. will collapse once immediate maintenance has not been made."

Full text of the short article

Christian Church Discovered in Israel Pre-Dates Constantine's Legalization by Decades

Prisoners excavating a site near the biblical Armageddon uncovered what archaeologists said on Sunday may be the Holy Land's oldest church, reports the Independent Online.

Told to dig in an area where the Prisons' Authority wants to build new wards for 1,200 Palestinian security prisoners, the Israeli criminals uncovered mosaics that experts said was the floor of a church from the third century, decades before Constantine legalised Christianity across the Byzantine Empire.

"What's clear today is that it's the oldest archaeological remains of a church in Israel, maybe even in the entire region, whether in the entire world, it's still too early to say," said Yotam Tepper, the excavation's head archeologist.

Israeli officials were giddy at the news, with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon calling the church "an amazing story".

Click for the full story.

Domitian II, Ornate Roman Oil Lamp, and Important Anglo-Saxon Skillet Among 67,000+ UK Artefacts Found

More than 67,000 archaeological items and 427 pieces of treasure have been discovered by members of the public in the UK over the past year. The details of the finds are revealed today in two new reports launched by the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

The PAS, which is run by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), is the country's largest community archaeology project and its annual report (2004/5) contains information about finds reported by amateur archaeologists, metal detectorists, gardeners, farmers, builders and walkers. It is one of the world's most enlightened policies towards encouraging cooperation among all interested parties.

The DCMS Treasure Annual Report includes details of objects reported under the Treasure Act 1996. Finders have a legal obligation to report potential treasure finds over 300 years old, generally gold and silver objects, and the Act ensures that, where possible, such items become available to the public in our museums.

Items discovered go back to the Prehistoric period and range from a first century nail cleaner to one of the most remarkable examples of ornate Roman Oil lamp found in Britain; a mystery seventh century head, beautiful jewellery, and a stunning coin which proves the existence of a little known Roman Emperor Domitian II.

A selection of the objects will be on view at today's launch at the Museum of London, including:

Roman copper-alloy figurine (50-100 AD) - Roman copper-alloy fitting from a table leg in the form of the deity Attys, found in Reigate, Surrey. The object appears to be unique in Roman Britain. The only known parallel comes from Pompeii.

Roman silver coin (c.271 AD) – a base silver Roman coin known as a radiate of the emperor Domitian II was discovered in Chalgrove, Oxfordshire - the first such coin found in Britain. The only other was found in France and was thought to be a fake until the discovery of the British coin proved the existence of the short-lived emperor. 

Iron Age electrum torc (c.200-50 BC) – a fine example of a beautifully manufactured late Iron Age necklace. Found in South West Norfolk.

Iron Age scabbard mount (100 BC – 100AD) - a beautiful example of Late Iron Age copper-alloy scabbard mount.

Anglo-Saxon skillet (c.675 – 800 AD) – an important early Christian grave object, this find is made of sheet copper-alloy skillet, with a riveted mount in the form of a cross. Found in Shalfleet Parish, Isle of Wight.

Anglo-Saxon jewellery (c.625-675 AD) – two gold pendants with polychrome glass settings, a gold spacer bead and a number of copper-alloy girdle accessories, were unearthed from a female burial site in Thurnham, Kent.

A silver coin (c.1062 – 1065) - unique silver cut halfpenny of Edward the Confessor found in Gloucester. Coins of this date are very rare.

Congratulations to Harvard's Dr. David Gordon Mitten, Curator of Ancient Art

Several hundred people filled the spacious lecture hall of Harvard University's Sackler Museum beyond its capacity last evening to honor Dr. "David" Gordon Mitten as he marked his 70th birthday and retirement from his role as Curator of Ancient Art at the Museum.  Attendees -- some of whom sat in the aisles, stood in the doorways, or even crowded the projection room when the auditorium exceeded its limit -- included family, colleagues, friends, students past and present, antiquities collectors and dealers. 

David's long-time friend and cross-town colleague, John J. Herrmann Jr., Curator of Classical Art Emeritus from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, delivered a fabulously insightful, witty and accessible talk entitled Deconstructing and Reconstructing the Harvard-Vatican Boy. The Harvard-Vatican Boy, as it is known, is a masterful life-size 2nd century AD Roman marble sculpture and according to Dr. Herrmann may represent a young Narcissus that once decorated a Roman garden pool.  It was acquired by the Sackler in 1999 through the David M. Robinson Fund.

Following the lecture, the crowd joined David at a reception in the timeless halls of the grand Renaissance courtyard of Harvard's Fogg Art Museum. Attendees, some coming from Switzerland, Japan, South African, Barcelona, and across the USA to be part of this special evening, mixed as "David" with characteristic unwavering enthusiasm sprang about the room warmly greeting each of his hundreds of guests -- some he no doubt has not seen in years -- by name.

Long-time associate Amy Brauer who was central to organizing the event, provided opening remarks, and was followed by Susan Matheson of Yale University.  George Ortiz of Switzerland, who has built one of the world's greatest private collections of ancient classical art, also spoke briefly, commenting on David's world-class connoisseurship and remarkable "eye."

David finished off the evening with an emotional talk at the podium where he reflected on his passion for historical objects being sparked when he found his first Indian arrowheads as a five-year-old boy. He thanked the many people over the years who have supported him and discussed the evolution of the Sackler's collection, which has grown significantly through the generosity of so many under David's curatorial direction.   

David's final remarks were especially heartening to those in the audience who are passionate about collecting and stewarding antiquities for future generations.  He strongly defended the rights of scholars and academics to study and publish important antiquities that appear on the market where clear provenance is not always able to be established.  He emphasized that the role of museums is to collect and grow their collections for the benefit of future generations. And, he harshly criticized scandal-mongering in the press, as well academics out to vilify those who practice their freedom to acquire, trade, and share ancient works of art.   

In tribute to David, a symposium will be held on Saturday, November 5.