Letting the Ancients Speak

Schellinger, Sarah M.; Davidson, Stacy; Torres, Inês

http://hdl.handle.net/10362/168839

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Autores

Schellinger, Sarah M.

Davidson, Stacy

Torres, Inês

Resumo(s)

There is a tendency for ancient Nile Valley artifacts to be displayed such that the visual impact of objects is emphasized at the expense of their textual components. Given the inextricable link between artifacts and their inscriptions, how can museum professionals and educators incorporate the written treasure trove of information from objects in museum collections to create a more inclusive and informative experience for students and the public? This essay analyzes three inscribed artifacts in the care of different institutions and suggests a framework for how museum professionals and educators can adopt an object-centered pedagogical approach which holistically integrates textual and visual information. By illuminating the relationship between text and artistry in artifacts from the material culture of the ancient Nile Valley, educators emphasize observational skills and critical analysis to ponder issues of gender, class, family structure, and ethnicity. Furthermore, students benefit from increasing their exposure to cultures and values not their own while addressing known and unknown biases toward ancient Nile Valley cultures. Using this framework shifts the presentation and interpretation of Nile Valley material culture from the institutionalized approach of an “outsider looking in” to providing a collaborative and interactive platform which relates ancient materials to modern experiences and humanizes ancient voices.