Reconciling materials, artefacts and images : an examination of the material transformations undergone by the Philioremos anthropomorphic figurines
Visually-compelling small finds have traditionally been examined for their appearances. These artefacts, consisting of figurines, ornaments and body adornments, for example, have been primarily studied for the meanings that the images they project might have held. Strikingly fewer are analyses of these objects' material qualities. Frequently ignored are their composition, the sourcing and working of their materials, or their materiality. The aim of this thesis is to reconcile considerations of the visual and material aspects of visually compelling small finds. It is here argued that examinations of the material aspects of artefacts can reveal important information about the course of their production and consumption, and about the nature of the relationships involved therein. The volume's reconciliatory endeavour is thus undertaken with the creation of a new materially-inclusive, biographically-orientated, methodologically-holistic and multi-scalar framework. Bolstered by theories drawn from philosophy and the social sciences, this methodology allows for closer investigations into the web of closely-knit inter-nodal relationships maintained between humans, materials and the environment during the making and
Murphy, Celine
CC Archaeology
Reconciling materials, artefacts and images : an examination of the material transformations undergone by the Philioremos anthropomorphic figurines. Visually-compelling small finds have traditionally been examined for their appearances. These artefacts, consisting of figurines, ornaments and body adornments, for example, have been primarily studied for the meanings that the images they project might have held. Strikingly fewer are analyses of these objects' material qualities. Frequently ignored are their composition, the sourcing and working of their materials, or their materiality. The aim of this thesis is to reconcile considerations of the visual and material aspects of visually compelling small finds. It is here argued that examinations of the material aspects of artefacts can reveal important information about the course of their production and consumption, and about the nature of the relationships involved therein. The volume's reconciliatory endeavour is thus undertaken with the creation of a new materially-inclusive, biographically-orientated, methodologically-holistic and multi-scalar framework. Bolstered by theories drawn from philosophy and the social sciences, this methodology allows for closer investigations into the web of closely-knit inter-nodal relationships maintained between humans, materials and the environment during the making and
reconciling material artefact image examination material transformation undergo anthropomorphic figurine visually compelling small_find traditionally examine appearance artefact consist figurine ornament body adornment example primarily study meaning image project might hold strikingly few analysis object material quality frequently ignore composition source work material materiality aim reconcile consideration visual_material aspect visually compel small_find argued examination material aspect artefacts reveal important information course production_consumption nature_relationship involve therein volume endeavour thus undertaken creation_new materially inclusive orientated methodologically holistic multi_scalar framework theory draw philosophy social_science allow close investigation web closely knit inter relationship maintain human material environment making