Conference Abstracts
Confronting Theory with Evidence in the Interpretation of Ancient Figurines
Richard Lesure
University of California, Los Angeles
For thirty years, interpretations of ancient figurines have emphasized close contextual analysis. By rejecting crude generalizations and immersing ourselves in the details of individual cases, we have hoped to gain greater insight into the experiences of original makers and users. Yet as high-quality contextual studies accumulate, the need to think further on issues of generalization, comparison, and linkages among contexts becomes more urgent. Contextualist studies in fact continue to make use of generalizations and universalist theoretical claims. For instance, numerous works, drawing on theories of materiality, claim a material agency for figurines: people made figurines, but figurines also made people, helping to shape them as thinking, feeling, acting subjects. One study after another, on a wide diversity of eras and regions, suggests as much, revealing this as a universalist claim. Yet can it always have been true, everywhere? Could its applicability be interrogated in particular instances? This talk explores a few strategies for assessing the roles of generalization and appeals to universalist truths in context-specific interpretations of ancient figurines. I consider specifically questions of consistent applicability and productivity. Figurine-making was typically a regional phenomenon, practiced in multiple communities. Are generalizations recruited for the interpretation of one site consistently applicable across a cluster of related sites? Further, is interpretive appeal to some universal truth productive? For instance, does it help make sense of variation within a regional cluster? I draw examples primarily from the Formative era in Mesoamerica, then briefly conclude with an outsider’s perspective on figurines from the Nile Valley during the second millennium BC, the hope being to pose questions that might stimulate discussion among specialists.
All Made of the Same Clay: Profiling Identities through the Archaeological Contexts of Clay Figurines
Georgia Long
Università di Pisa
Egyptian clay artefacts, amongst which anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figurines, have been often associated with the ‘lower’ classes’ and with lesser degrees of creativity, skill and intellectual process. Being found also within the funerary assemblages of elite cemeteries, however, the objects must have played a significant role in the mortuary belief system of different social classes and must have been appealing despite the use of ‘common’ materials. Their abundant presence in domestic contexts and, to a lesser extent, in cultic contexts, further suggests that the lifespan of clay figurines may have crossed the borders between daily use and funerary purpose, between folk-culture and state-influenced culture, between higher and lower classes. This talk explores how archaeological contexts contribute to understanding the different possible identities(s) of the people involved in the lives of ancient Egyptian clay figurines (c. 2000–1550 BC) and how their worlds may have interacted.
Negotiating Identity: Female (?) Embodiment and Abstraction in Egyptian Plaque Figurines
Beatriz Noria-Serrano
Università di Pisa
Ancient Egyptian anthropomorphic figurines depict unique shapes of the human body. While not all figurines represent the body in a realistic manner, all of them have certain recognisable human body parts, whose analysis can offer insights into how ancient Egyptians understood corporeality. Typological studies in Egyptology have traditionally focused on the presence of these emphasised features in order to uncover the identities of these objects. Nevertheless, the absence of body parts and the abstraction of others can equally inform us about ancient Egyptian perceptions of the body. Particularly intriguing are "plaque figurines," small clay blocks often found in domestic contexts that, until recently, have gone unnoticed by scholars. These figurines, typically associated with female bodies, are abstracted to essential forms. They present an opportunity to study how the female body was conceptualised and negotiated, often reduced to elements considered essential. While some scholars suggest these figurines idealise femininity or symbolize female power, their abstraction also allows for the possibility of negotiating their identity, accommodating varying user needs. By intensifying the relationship between the physical and social body, these figurines draw attention to the cultural significance of embodiment in ancient Egypt. Through their abstraction and variability, they highlight the processes through which the human body was perceived, conceptualised, and socially constructed within this historical context.
Symbolic Materials: exploring identity and performance through raw material choice for Egyptian Middle Bronze Age clay figurines
Hannah Page
Università di Padova
This paper examines the technical and material choices made by the producers of clay figurines from the Egyptian Middle Bronze Age (c. 2000–1550 BC). While these small, unfired, and often crude zoomorphic and anthropomorphic figurines may seem unremarkable, they provide a unique glimpse into the lives of everyday people in the Middle Kingdom. The paper uses macroscopic and geochemical (pXRF) methods to examine the technology and composition of clay figurines originating from a number of sites along the Nile valley in present-day Egypt and Sudan. While on its own this data can suggest the provenance of the artefacts and how they were made, this study will draw on contextual, iconographic and written evidence to examine the reasons behind why certain materials and techniques were chosen and in turn what this can suggest about the identity of the producers and how the figurines were used. It has been demonstrated that choices made in raw material selection and technology can provide an insight into the ideological, economic, and social situation of the producers. Therefore, this study will use this theoretical basis to suggest how raw material choice was often a thoughtful and deliberate act for reasons unrelated to the practicality and functionality of the materials. Instead, it provides an indication of the social and symbolic values placed upon both the materials and these tactile and highly personal objects. In particular, the paper will investigate how this data can aid us in exploring the performative use and everyday activities related to these elusive figurines, and the beliefs and values held by the makers and users during this period.
Archaeometry as a means for multiplying material identities. Case studies based on ceramic vessels and clay figurines from the Middle Nile Valley during the Bronze Age period
Giulia D'Ercole & Julia Budka
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, ERC Project DiverseNile
By etymology, the concept of identity intrinsically evokes a principle of uniqueness. In a similar way, both in the historical and anthropological disciplines, the definition of identity commonly encapsulates a static and crystallised vision, either of people or of objects, over time and space. In the archaeology of the Bronze Age Sudan, with the Middle Nile Valley occupied by a mosaic of different local (Nubian) cultures and a foreign population of Egyptian colonisers, this idea of identity seems to waver. Likewise, the materiality of both mundane and prestige objects, such as domestic ceramics and clay figurines, suggests a much more complex, mutable and amalgamated cultural landscape. In general, the notion of an object’s identity does not have a clear and absolute dimension, but rather multiple assumptions. Firstly, there is the material identity of the object (i.e., the identity of the raw materials and place/s of production); secondly, the technological identity that is expressed during the stage of manufacturing; then the identity of the place/s of use of the object; and finally, that of discard. Added to this is all the information about the social identity of the craftsman who made this specific vessel or figurine and that of the people who used and kept this object during their lifetime and perhaps after death, as well as the way they perceived it in their overall set of materialities. Archaeometric investigation with a combination of laboratory techniques in conjunction with typological and stylistic observation of artefacts (ceramic vessels as well as clay figurines in the shape of animals and humans) enabled a more complex reconstruction of the history of Bronze Age Sudan by linking people and materialities to their past landscape. This ultimately allows for the dismantling of an individual and static dimension of object(s) - and culture(s) identity toward a manifold, fluid and eventually emic vision of identity.
Figurines as proxies for craft and ritual activities? A review of the Saqqara Execration Figurines
Dennis Braekmans, Vanessa Boschloos, Hendrik Hameeuw & Athena Van der Perre
Leiden University, Ghent University & KU Leuven
In 1921-1922, in the vicinity of a Middle Kingdom cenotaph in the Teti Pyramid cemetery at Saqqara, a large group of inscribed unfired clay figurines was discovered by the British Egyptologists C.M. Firth and B.G. Gunn. Part of this group ended up at the Royal Museums of Art & History in Brussels, Belgium, and was intensively studied together with a much smaller collection housed at the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, the Netherlands. The study of these figurines and their context forms a unique outlook on practices of use and their place in a ritual context, but also regarding their materiality such as raw material use, divergences from pottery production activities, and post-excavation effects of collection history and conservation efforts. Towards this end a ‘total’ integrated analysis of these figures has been envisaged - culminating within the EES project (Brussels, 2014-2017) and a research grant (Leiden, 2023) - involving both Egyptological and archaeological approaches, advanced imaging and chemical analyses to generate a new interpretative framework for this exceptional group of artifacts. While provenance determinations remain challenging in the context of the variability in Nile clay and marl clay deposits, the composition of the figurines is consistent with local Saqqara deposits. New applications in multi-light and multi-spectral imaging of the inscribed surfaces allowed to study shaping techniques and the preservation and degradation of the surface layers, as well as to (re)visualize its faded inscriptions.
Materiality in Motion: AUTOMATA's Algorithmic Turn in Archaeometric Research
Francesca Anichini*, Gabriele Gattiglia*, Martina Naso** & Claudia Sciuto*
*MAPPA lab, Department of Civilizations and Forms of Knowledge, University of Pisa & **University La Sapienza, Rome
This presentation explores the premises and early challenges of the AUTOMATA project (AUTOMated enriched digitisation of Archaeological liThics and cerAmics - Horizon Europe programme), which started in September 2024. AUTOMATA proposes a groundbreaking approach to the enhanced digitization of archaeological ceramics and lithics, focusing on the integration of non-destructive analytical instruments and algorithmic methodologies. By combining AI-augmented robotics with multi-sensor data acquisition, the project aims to capture both visible and non-visible properties of artifacts, including surface morphology and elemental composition, while minimizing calibration errors and ensuring data consistency. This enriched digitization process has the potential to generate massive datasets, significantly expanding the availability and quality of archaeometric data. Beyond increased data availability, the project promotes a paradigm shift in the perception of ceramic materialities. By revealing microstructural and compositional information alongside surface features, AUTOMATA will make it possible to explore material biographies with greater precision, challenging conventional interpretations of texture, fabric, and technological choices. This holistic approach fosters a deeper understanding of past human-object interactions, technological variability, and the diverse material expressions of pottery and lithics. AUTOMATA's methodologies thus contribute to both the advancement of archaeometric practices and the broader rethinking of how material culture is documented, interpreted, and shared within archaeological research and cultural heritage preservation.
A matter of choices: disclosing the production technology of terracotta figurines at Barikot (northern Pakistan)
Lara Maritan, Luca Maria Olivieri, Giusy Esposito, Gennaro Alterio & Anna Filigenzi
Università di Padova, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia & Università degli Studi di Napoli "L'Orientale"
This contribute presents the results of the archaeometric investigation of a set of terracotta figurines found at the archaeological site of Barikot (northern Pakistan) dated to period between the Iron Age and the IV century CE. The figurines, with human and animal connotations, were petrographically analysed in order to define the similarities with the other productions attested at Barikot, such as common ware, terra sigillata and northern black polished ware, in order to explore if there was a continuity in terms of selection and preparation of raw materials and production choices between the various ceramic classes. The clay materials used to produce the terracotta figurine resulted to be locally supplied, as attested by the petrographic composition of their inclusions, and processed according to analogous procedures (depuration grade) used in other vessel classes. In terms of firing, the figurine resulted to have experienced analogous conditions of those adopted for the production of terra sigillata. The analysis of the figurines therefore allowed to disclose the production choices at Barikot.
Identity and Materiality: Bronze Age Egyptian clay figurines in a multiscale and interdisciplinary perspective
Vanessa Forte
Sapienza University of Rome
This presentation explores the dynamic relationship between ancient people and clay figurines with a focus on concepts as identity and materiality. The inherently plastic nature of clay and ceramic artefacts captures traces of human interaction, preserving evidence such as modelling marks (dermatoglyphic impressions or toolkits) that reveal details about the age, sex, or dexterity of the individuals who crafted them. The application of multiscale analytical techniques, including mesoscopic and microscopic investigations, allows the interpretation of previously underestimated evidence. For instance, fingerprints and use-wear analysis not only shed light on the life cycle of these artefacts but also help identify marginalised groups—such as women, children, or labourers—often overlooked in traditional archaeological narratives. By viewing these traces through the framework of material engagement, this presentation highlights the complex interplay between maker and material during the creative process, emphasising the co-construction of both. Bronze Age Egyptian figurines are used in this presentation as a case study to demonstrate how a cognitive and material engagement approach can guide scientific analyses and yield novel interpretations of archaeological clay miniatures. This perspective enriches our understanding of past lifeways and supports the development of alternative historical reconstructions.
Unveiling the Makers: A Dermatoglyphic Study of Clay Objects from Neolithic Anatolia
Aysel Arslan
Netherlands Institute in Turkey
Clay was an indispensable resource in Neolithic Anatolia, used to create a wide range of objects, from utilitarian items to symbolic artifacts. While extensive research has explored the properties, provenance, and functional aspects of clay objects, the manufacturing processes and identities of the producers have been less thoroughly investigated. This lack of attention to the human element behind the production of clay objects represents a significant gap in our understanding of Neolithic societies. This paper aims to fill this niche by examining clay objects from Western Anatolia through the lens of dermatoglyphics, the study of fingerprints embossed on their surface. The analysis of fingerprints on these objects offers valuable insights into the manufacturing process and the age and sex of the producers. By studying these fingerprints, we can gain a deeper understanding of the craftsmanship involved in creating these objects and the individuals who were responsible for their production. This paper focuses on figurines and sling missiles from Western Anatolia as a case study. Despite being made from the same clay, these objects clearly had distinct functions and were likely produced using different techniques and by different groups within the community. By analyzing the fingerprints left on these artifacts, we can explore their production processes and gain a better understanding of how labor division and knowledge transfer were organized in the Neolithic communities of Western Anatolia. This study sheds new light on Neolithic communities by understanding the social dynamics of clay object production in this region.
Touching the Past - Greek and Egyptian Figurine Makers from Ptolemaic Thonis-Heracleion
Leonie Hoff
University of Oxford, School of Archaeology
The study of ancient fingerprints, also known as Paleodermatoglyphics, is a much underutilised approach in archaeology. Fingerprints are of course known for their utility in criminal investigations but also show potential in archaeological research, allowing for an estimate of both the age and sex of an individual to be determined. Forte & Miniaci 2023 were the first to apply this method to Egyptian archaeology, working on Middle Kingdom figurines from El-Lahun. My study will only be the second of its kind and includes additional methods of measurements, working both with fingerprint ridge breadth and ridge densities to produce estimates about the coroplasts whose works have been found at Thonis-Heracleion, one of Egypt’s major harbours in the Late and Ptolemaic Period. This research forms part of my thesis on the terracotta figurines which have so far been found at the site. While the city has been mostly known for its monumental finds, relatively little is known about non-elite lives at the site. Looking both at local production and that of Greek imports allows differences in the fabrication process to be distinguished and shines new light on life at the city. Albeit the scope of this study is still to be expanded, several noteworthy distinctions could be drawn about differences in figurine craftsmanship between Greek and local craftsmen. The evidence for the role of children in figurine production among both cultures is noteworthy and the application of this method has allowed insights into the chaîne opératoire and training process of the humble coroplast. Furthermore, the evidence for the work of children may raise wider questions about the role of children in the Egyptian economy and conceptions of childhood in Ancient Egypt.
Universal patterns, individually made: workshop practices in light of archaeometric research.
Anna Rauba-Bukowska, Maciej Dębiec, Vasile Diaconu & Katarzyna Drabik
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish Academy of Sciences; Institute of Archaeology, University of Rzeszów; History and Ethnography Museum of Târgu NeamÈ› & Instytut Nafty i Gazu - PaÅ„stwowy Instytut Badawczy.
Anthropomorphic figurines are among the most significant archaeological finds in Precucuteni and later Cucuteni culture. Their typology and interpretation have been studied and debated for more than one hundred years, while technological aspects are still not thoroughly investigated. Since 2017 a multicultural site Topolita in NE Romania has been explored with a chronological frame from Neolithic till Late Antiquity IV Century AD. Most of the features (including at least seven burnt houses) belong to Precucuteni culture. More than 150 anthropomorphic statuettes were recovered during systematic excavations, most of them fragmented. Several archaeometric methods were used to investigate the nature of raw materials and technology of these figurines. First, petrographic studies of raw material were made both for figurines and for clay vessels from the site. Optical microscopy (OM) was used to obtain mineral composition of the clay. Due to the unique status of the figurines a non destructive tool such as X-ray computed tomography (CT) was used to investigated the inside structure of the clay statuettes. The project used the CT method to study 9 fragments of figurines and 6 fragments of ceramic vessels. The first analyses of the images illustrated that the artifacts differ significantly in their internal structure. In some of them, relatively large voids and irregular cracks are observed in addition to small pores. In others, the orientation of the fractures is somewhat more regular, which may be related to successively applied layers of material that have become detached over time. Another group of figures is characterized by low porosity, consisting mainly of small pores and few voids. The studies show that there were many forming technics to create anthropomorphic figurine which are similar in their appearance. Also, petrographic studies show inconsistency in clay material usage.
Fragile Clay, Sturdy Grains: An Interdisciplinary Investigation of the Gebelein granary Model S. 15802
Filippo Mi & Jessica Izak
University of Strasbourg & DAI Berlin
This study presents a detailed analysis of an unbaked clay architectural model featuring nine symmetrically arranged silos within a courtyard, accessible through an archway, discovered in the necropolis of Gebelein, Egypt, by the Museo Egizio’s archaeological mission in 1911. Although widely cited in the literature as an agricultural symbol underscoring the importance of grain storage in ancient Egyptian society, this research moves beyond its predominant semiological significance to focus on the materiality and the production of the architectural model, incorporating an interdisciplinary approach. Our recent investigation at the Museo Egizio in Turin provides a fresh perspective by applying technological and archaeological methods to explore the model's chaîne opératoire. Photogrammetric techniques documented fine details, revealing traces such as fingerprints and tool marks, offering valuable insights into craftsmanship and construction techniques of ancient Egyptian artisans — an aspect often overshadowed by symbolic interpretation. Significantly, the discovery of actual grains within the silos introduces a new dimension to the model, potentially connecting it to real-life practices of food storage and the belief in sustenance for the afterlife, rather than merely functioning as an abstract symbol. Ongoing archaeobotanical analysis will help determine how closely the model mirrors actual grain storage systems in ancient Egypt, providing fresh perspectives in its practical and symbolic roles in funerary contexts, as well as agricultural practices. This research offers a deeper understanding by shifting the focus from metaphorical interpretations to a more technical, material-based analysis, thus contributing to ongoing discussions about ritual practices, craftsmanship, and materiality in ancient Egyptian burial traditions. The preliminary findings, which precede the final publication by the authors, shed new light on the model's production techniques and funerary function.
Making clay figurines in the Neolithic Aegean: The example of Thessalian plain (central Greece)
Argyris Fassoulas
Research Associate UMR7041ArScan, Protohistoire égéenne, Université Paris Nanterre
Neolithic figurines have long been a focal point of debate in prehistoric research, yet the intricate process of their manufacture often goes underappreciated. While frequently interpreted as either artistic artifacts or ideological symbols, their technical dimensions are often sidelined. However, a closer examination of the methods used to produce these miniaturized representations can shed new light on their stylistic characteristics. The shape of a figurine is the outcome of a deliberate and precise sequence of technical actions, actions that are deeply embedded in social contexts. By recognizing the figurine’s form as a product of both technical skill and cultural choices, we can begin to reconstruct the human activities that shaped their creation. This paper focuses on anthropomorphic figurines from Neolithic Thessaly in northern Greece as a case study to explore the figurine-making processes of the Neolithic Aegean. Employing a multi-disciplinary methodology—including macroscopic analysis, radiography, and experimental approach—it seeks to unravel the technological intricacies behind idoloplastic practices. By doing so, we aim to delve into the social and cultural dimensions of figurine production, investigating how the organization of this clay production ties to the identities of its makers. This includes an exploration of the roles of gender and age, as well as the spaces chosen for these activities. Furthermore, the study will examine variations in production practices in relation to tradition, social status, individual skills, and the transmission of knowledge as part of broader technical environment.
The role of figurines in place-making: A case study from Jebel Moya, Sudan
Isabelle Vella Gregory
Honorary Research Associate, Institute of Archaeology, University College London
Figurines are not merely representations *of* something. They are active secondary agents that both distil and forge a given social’s group choices and beliefs. They are part of a dynamic network and they help anchor aspects of that network. At the same time, figurines have an irresistible allure. They make us ponder what is this a figurine of? The questions we need to ask, however, are different. Focus should be on figurines as part of broader networks, how they functioned and by what means. This paper will focus on the figurine corpus from Jebel Moya (Site 100), Sudan, one of the largest known agro-pastoralist cemeteries and habitation sites in sub-Saharan Africa. It was first excavated by Henry Wellcome in 1911 and new fieldwork started in 2017 (although this is currently on hold due to war). The figurine corpus from the early excavations has been largely overlooked. The human form is represented in complex ways and there are numerous zoomorphic figurine. The Wellcome material was dispersed in a number of museums and collections. Contextual information is difficult to establish, indeed it was not considered to be of particular concern in the original excavations. This paper demonstrates a way forward for analyzing sets of material culture considered difficult. It argues we need to move away from the universalist view of Sudan and shift our focus to social relations and place-making. The Jebel Moya corpus is re-examined from the perspective of figurine attributes, showing how this is a useful methodology rather than the final interpretive step. Figurines are then re-examined as objects that inhabited various spaces in the social network, which has to include relationships between humans, animals, environment and belief systems.
Performing Healing Rituals with Clay Figurines from Middle Bronze Age Egypt (c. 2000-1550 BC)
Gianluca Miniaci
Università di Pisa
Clay figurines in Middle and Late Bronze Age Egypt and Nubia have been found in several different contexts (Lahun, Lisht, Amarna, Abydos, Deir el-Ballas, Deir el-Medina, Edfu, Elephantine, Sai, Qubban, Buhen, Askut, Shalfak, Uronarti, and Semna). The corpus is composed of clay miniatures of humans, animals and objects and the debate on their significance is still open. Scholars proposed diverse hypotheses sustaining the interpretation of these figurines as symbolic and religious artefacts or even toys. However, by integrating the analysis of textual sources (medical and magical papyri), some of these figurines could be considered part of a kit for ancient healing practice.
From Play to Ritual: Investigating Mud Toys Made by Children in Ancient Egyptian Contexts
Marwa Soliman
Mansoura University
This scholarly inquiry delves into the intricate complexities surrounding the identification of children's play objects amidst the archaeological remnants of ancient Egypt. Within this context, the use of figurines and relics in religious and magical contexts often blurs the distinction between items of ritual significance and toys. Through a meticulous examination of unfired or lightly fired clay figurines predominantly discovered in urban locales like Kahun, juxtaposed with more elaborate playthings such as rattles and animal replicas, this study delves into the potential multifaceted roles of these artifacts as both objects of children's recreation and implements for ritualistic purposes. In historical documentation, it is evident that the production of figurines was primarily carried out by adults. However, the identification of sub-adult fingerprints on specific clay artifacts suggests the potential active participation of children in the crafting process. This involvement may have entailed the absorption of elements of adult craftsmanship through collaborative endeavors or playful interactions. Through a comparative examination of mud toys originating from various sites such as Lahun, Philia, and Deir El Medina, this study aims to elucidate the extent to which these archaeological remnants reflect everyday practices, ritual customs, and communal gatherings within ancient Egyptian society. This research not only delves into the shapes employed in shaping these toys but also delves into the emblematic and cultural elements embedded within them, aiming to reveal plausible interconnections between children's play, adult conduct, and broader societal or ceremonial customs prevalent during that epoch. Through a meticulous analysis of these artifacts within their archaeological milieus and drawing parallels with similar discoveries, this study aspires to uncover the intricate interplay between play pastimes, ritual involvements, and societal dynamics in ancient Egyptian communities.
Investigating the development of attenuated, abstract female figurines in IInd millennium BC Egypt and their relation to figurines from surrounding cultures
Victoria Jensen
Senior Research Scholar, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, University of California Berkeley
In the late Middle Kingdom, two new types of female figurine appeared in Egypt. Markedly different from their earlier, more naturalistic Middle Kingdom predecessors, these figurines are characterized by extremely stylized heads and unnaturally narrow waists and long legs. The first type, categorized as Type 2 by Geraldine Pinch, features several descending locks of hair rendered in clay, surrounding an abstracted face. Type 2 figurines are attested from the Middle Kingdom into the Second Intermediate Period. The other type of figurine, Pinch’s Type 3, has even more unnaturally formed heads, which are disc-shaped. The faces are generally extremely wide, and the eyes and eyebrows are indicated by simple horizontal incisions. A beak-like nose is applied to the face, and usually no mouth is indicated. As with the Type 2 figurines, the Type 3 bodies are extremely attenuated. Type 3 figurines appear in the late Middle Kingdom and continue to be found in contexts dating into the reign of Thutmose III. Because these figurines represent such a radical departure from the previous style, which had naturalistic heads and normally proportioned bodies (albeit with truncated legs), it remains an open question as to how this new style arose in Egypt. Did these new types of figurines represent influences from a non-Egyptian cultural identity? Some sources have identified these abstracted figurines with the Hyksos, while others identify them as coming from a Nubian culture. This paper will examine contemporaneous figurines from the regions surrounding Egypt, as well as earlier figurines indigenous to Egypt to investigate possible sources that may have served as inspiration for the Type 2 and 3 female figurine, and what they may tell us about the cultural and social identities of the people who made and used them in Egypt.
Religious Identity in Ancient Egyptian Ushabti Figurines
Hossam Hegazy
Inspector of Antiquities at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Egypt
Ushabti figurines, which played a crucial role in ancient Egyptian funerary rituals, offer deep insights into the religious identity of the ancient Egyptians. These clay figurines were buried with the deceased to serve them in the afterlife, reflecting beliefs about the afterlife and the role of the gods in that journey. This research aims to explore the religious and social identity represented by clay Ushabti figurines and how they reflect the relationship between humans and gods in ancient Egypt. The study will focus on analyzing the manufacturing techniques of clay Ushabti figurines, such as shaping and decoration methods, as well as examining the materials used in their production. Additionally, it will review the ritualistic roles these figurines played and their relationship to the personal and religious identity of the deceased through an analysis of the iconography and inscriptions on the figurines. The diversity and use of Ushabti in various social and religious contexts will also be explored. By examining these clay figurines, the research will address the connection between the craftsmen who produced them and the religious beliefs that shaped the identity of these objects. Modern analytical techniques such as petrographic and geochemical analysis will be employed to investigate the raw materials used in the production of Ushabti figurines, helping to determine the geographical sources of these materials and their cultural significance. This study will contribute to a deeper understanding of the social and religious roles of clay Ushabti figurines in ancient Egypt and how they expressed the religious identity of both the deceased and society as a whole.
Unbaked clay images of early Bronze age Iran: from conjectures to contexts
Massimo Vidale
Università di Padova
Prehistoric and protohistoric clay figurines, unbaked or fired, have traditionally been the subject of extensive speculation, with results of varying value. Often their form is merely studied and interpreted in relation to general anthropological models, without the necessary verification being possible. By means of two case studies encountered on the Iranian plateau of the Early Bronze Age, the presentation focuses on the indispensable understanding the archaeological contexts - also in terms of stratigraphic formation processes - in which the unbaked clay statues and figurines discussed appeared; it thus proposes a series of clues and reflections that may perhaps also be useful in other archaeological sites and situations.
Broken, repaired, disposed of and neglected. Taking a closer look at the social lives of Old Babylonian figurines
Enrica Inversi
PhD candidate - Institut für Vorderasiatische Archäologie, Freie Universität Berlin
Assistant Collection Manager - Middle East Department, The British Museum
During the Old Babylonian period (2003-1595 BCE) there is an increase in the production of terracotta figurines which had already started in the Third millennium BCE. The excavations at Ur conducted in the 1920’s by a joint expedition led by the British Museum and the Penn Museum, soon became a media phenomenon for the amount of luxury objects discovered. However, among the many artefacts recovered on the site, a large number of clay figurines were also found, mainly in residential areas. Many of them come from unclear contexts and mainly present anthropomorphic and zoomorphic features. Scholars have often interpreted figurines as ritual objects, even when these were found in non-religious contexts such as domestic settings. Over the years, substantial research has been dedicated to figurines from different Near East contexts, which has mainly focused on their aesthetic value and their ritual significance, thus excluding the possibility of exploring different identities and other cultural meanings. In this sense, the use of a methodological approach that includes data drawn from ethnography, technological trace analysis and a re-examination of texts can be a promising way to further understand the use of figurines within their social context. In this paper I will present a preliminary assessment of some of the clay figurines found at Ur and discuss how a combination of different methods can help challenge and reshape existing narrative around their use in Mesopotamia.