The spinning of Ur : how Sir Leonard Woolley, James R. Ogden and the British Museum interpreted and represented the past to generate funding for the excavation of Ur in the 1920's and 1930's
This thesis examines the representation in both the public and academic arenas of the archaeological excavation at Ur, southern Iraq, during the 1920âs and 30âs through a study of the main characters involved. Sir Leonard Woolleyâs excavation is still fundamental to our knowledge of archaeology in that region. Current thought criticises his approach to and interpretation of his work, as having been âBible drivenâ and of little scientific validity, but ignores the value of understanding the relationship between the excavator and the wider community from which his funding derived. Drawing on the Ogden archive, this study is our first opportunity to examine how knowledge about the Ur excavations was disseminated, how the archaeological past has been created and used, and how these interpretations presented entered the zeitgeist and still resonate today. As a result of my initial research findings, I gained access to the family archives of the goldsmith James Ogden, a substantial but previously unresearched body of material that provides an almost complete photographic record of the inter-war archaeology in this region as well as a comprehensive record of press coverage and public reaction. It also contains
Millerman, Alison Jean
Woolley ; Ogden
The spinning of Ur : how Sir Leonard Woolley, James R. Ogden and the British Museum interpreted and represented the past to generate funding for the excavation of Ur in the 1920's and 1930's. This thesis examines the representation in both the public and academic arenas of the archaeological excavation at Ur, southern Iraq, during the 1920âs and 30âs through a study of the main characters involved. Sir Leonard Woolleyâs excavation is still fundamental to our knowledge of archaeology in that region. Current thought criticises his approach to and interpretation of his work, as having been âBible drivenâ and of little scientific validity, but ignores the value of understanding the relationship between the excavator and the wider community from which his funding derived. Drawing on the Ogden archive, this study is our first opportunity to examine how knowledge about the Ur excavations was disseminated, how the archaeological past has been created and used, and how these interpretations presented entered the zeitgeist and still resonate today. As a result of my initial research findings, I gained access to the family archives of the goldsmith James Ogden, a substantial but previously unresearched body of material that provides an almost complete photographic record of the inter-war archaeology in this region as well as a comprehensive record of press coverage and public reaction. It also contains
spin sir james british_museum interpret represent past generate funding excavation examines_representation public academic arena archaeological_excavation southern iraq study main character involve sir excavation still fundamental knowledge archaeology_region current thought criticises interpretation work bible driven little scientific validity ignore value relationship excavator wider community funding derive drawing archive study first opportunity examine knowledge excavation disseminate archaeological past create use interpretation present still resonate today initial finding gain_access family archive james substantial previously unresearched body material provide almost_complete photographic record inter_war archaeology_region well comprehensive record press coverage public reaction also contains