KLEOS Issue 6, 2023 is coming soon!
The fifth Kleos issue is on its way! As always we are proud to present the work of starting scholars of (r)MA or PhD-level.
The papers included in the issue cover a wide range of subjects. Below, we present you the authors and their papers one by one. All the papers will be accessible here as well through the links in the title of each paper. This will bring you to the Kleos Academia page.
Previous Issues of Kleos can be found on our Previous Issues page.
A NEW PERIODISATION? RECENT INNOVATIONS IN STUDIES ON THE IMPACT OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SECOND TEMPLE
Florence Cobben
This paper summarises the debate on the topic whether Jewish history should mark the events of 70 AD as a “watershed”, and provides further points for consideration and discussion. For example recent works written by modern scholars, including R. Clements, D. Levine, and J. Klawans, all argue that the importance of 70 AD has been a product of either uncritical history-making influenced by ancient interpretations, or anachronistic readings of ancient attitudes. These authors have called for new approaches to the topic, which have already been successfully carried out by academics like A. Cohen.
Florence Cobben is currently finishing her Research Master in Ancient History with a thesis on the nocturnal behaviour of Early Christians. In the meantime, she is working her way through a Master’s in Archeology at Leiden University hoping to write her second thesis on the spiritual wellbeing of indigenous cultures in relation to archaeological digs and heritage sites.
Review: INTERDISCIPLINARITY AND ARCHAEOLOGY. A REVIEW OF THE 2022 ARCHON DAY
Thomas Hijzen
This review is about the ARCHON Day 2022, held on October 28th 2022 at the State Service for Cultural Heritage in Amersfoort. The conference was centred around the concept of interdisciplinary archaeology. Archaeologists in different stages of their career discussed this theme through poster presentations, workshops and a panel discussion. In his review, Thomas summarises the contents of the conference and he critically reflects on the results it yielded.
Thomas Hijzen is in the final stages of the research master in archaeology at Leiden University. His primary interest lies in combining digital techniques with landscape studies to assess archaeological patterns. For his research, he is currently using predictive modelling to analyse the organisation of the rural world in central Italy throughout the Roman Republican and Early Imperial periods.
Review: ARCHON DAY 2021: DECOLONISING ARCHAEOLOGY
Claudia Zancan
This paper sheds new light on the study of the decorated Mezurashizuka tombs (6th century CE) by considering them as a further element born of centuries of relations and interactions between North Kyūshū and the continent, specifically with the Korean Peninsula.
Claudia Zancan is a PhD candidate at the Department of Asian and North African Studies – Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. Her field of research is Art and Archaeology of Ancient Japan with a focus on the social meaning of decorated tombs in Late Kofun Kyūshū society. She holds a first Ma Degree in Archaeology (Leiden University), and a second Ma Degree in Language and Civilisation of Asia and Mediterranean Africa (Ca’ Foscari University).
GERMAN AND FRENCH COLONIAL RESTITUTION – ‘NEW RELATIONAL ETHICS’ OR USING THE LEGACY OF EMPIRE
Aurora Hamm
This paper focuses on German and French colonial restitutions, in which restituted objects take on new meaning. It is is argued that the restituted objects are instruments of soft power through public and cultural diplomacy. The (former) coloniser states utilise these objects, with geopolitical considerations in mind, as a means of ‘restarting’ their bilateral relationships and thus obtaining a certain reciprocity from the restitution. The materials act as ambassadors, adding a level of symbolism to their specific materiality. As such, Aurora argues that (former) coloniser states can benefit from their former empires a final time.
Martine Mussies & Dr. Mar Guerrero-Pico
In this dialogue paper, Mussies presents an innovative analysis of the representations of archaeological artefacts in modern fanfictions of the English King of Wessex. Mussies – and subsequently Dr. Guerrero-Pico – reflect on the use of this online genre to explore how archaeological narratives are constructed outside academia nowadays.
Martine is a PhD candidate at Maastricht University’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. As an artistic researcher, Martine uses her writing, music and visual work to explore new worlds and ideas. She is fascinated by stories about Alfred the Great, as well as by mermaids and other hybrid creatures from fairy tales, mythology and fantasy literature. Her interests include Asian studies, autism, budo, cyborgs, fanart, languages, neuropsychology, and video games. More @ www.martinemussies.nl
Dr. Silvia Berrica
This paper focuses on the social and religious differences shifts of Visigothic Spain through the case study of Gózquez. The site is a village built at the end of the 6th century during the period of territorial reorganisation by the local aristocracy. Nonetheless, during the 8th century there was a progressive Islamisation, which led to new ceramic forms and a change in the funeral rite. Silvia considers that focusing on the Gózquez site and its archaeological materiality, it is possible to reflect on the wider social dynamics and changes occurred between the Visigothic and Islamic periods.