Polished axes : object biographies and the writing of world prehistories
Polished axes have become an iconic tool representing the Neolithic in the archaeological record. Polished axes are unusual as they are similar in form and design across space and time, found internationally in both archaeological and ethnographic contexts. This meant they have become an easily recognisable item for collectors and have been found in public and private collections from the 18th Century onwards. A common component in many diverse collections, tracing the history of polished axes allows the investigation of the networks of people and artefacts which built the collections of the British Museum. These networks were also crucial in the sharing of information, which especially in the mid â 19th Century may have had a significant impact in the way in which world prehistories were written. The research has focused on the British Museumâs collection of polished axes from Oceania, and Europe. Objects associated with the axes, including hafts, labels, diaries, letters and catalogues have been used to reconstruct the âbiographyâ of each collection of artefacts. This makes it possible to show how the British Museumâs collections of polished axes were built and how they have been used to write
Norton, Elizabeth Jane
Polished axes : object biographies and the writing of world prehistories. Polished axes have become an iconic tool representing the Neolithic in the archaeological record. Polished axes are unusual as they are similar in form and design across space and time, found internationally in both archaeological and ethnographic contexts. This meant they have become an easily recognisable item for collectors and have been found in public and private collections from the 18th Century onwards. A common component in many diverse collections, tracing the history of polished axes allows the investigation of the networks of people and artefacts which built the collections of the British Museum. These networks were also crucial in the sharing of information, which especially in the mid â 19th Century may have had a significant impact in the way in which world prehistories were written. The research has focused on the British Museumâs collection of polished axes from Oceania, and Europe. Objects associated with the axes, including hafts, labels, diaries, letters and catalogues have been used to reconstruct the âbiographyâ of each collection of artefacts. This makes it possible to show how the British Museumâs collections of polished axes were built and how they have been used to write
object_biography write become iconic tool represent neolithic archaeological_record unusual similar form design across_space time find internationally archaeological_ethnographic context meant become easily recognisable item collector find public_private collection onwards common component many_diverse collection trace_history polish allow investigation network people artefact build collection british_museum network also crucial share information especially may significant_impact way write focus british_museum collection polish europe objects associate include label diary_letter catalogue use reconstruct biography collection artefact make_possible show british_museum collection polish build use write