C 07: Prehistoric Icons as Resources in Past and Present |
Project management: Prof. Dr. Jörn Staecker, Prof. Dr. Heinrich Härke |
| Scientific employees: Nina Nordström |
Summary
The project examines individuals and monuments, who achieved fame in the past, but even more in present times, through exhibitions, books, stagings and the like. These individuals and monuments were used in recent times to create identities, in some cases even the identity of whole nations. Thus they turned into a resource for a number of different social units and became part of the collective cultural memory. Their meaning and how they developed into memorials because of their exposure to the public or their geographical location is mainly defined by a long and varied existence, during the past as well as in the present, in research and in the public, for example in museums and media. They can be considered to be cultural icons obtaining a multi-levelled vita in politics, religion or the process of myth-creating, reaching back into the past. They are part of legends and myths, are depicted in different media and presented in detail. The popularity of such icons up to present times cannot be explained just by their splendour, but even more by their uniqueness, resulting from the interaction between researchers, media and public. The appreciation of individuals and monuments as archaeological finds – on national and international level – based on factors such as looks, age and gender crucially affects their representations and the ideas about their meaning in past and present. The decision of societies to turn something or someone into an icon is not based on criteria that can be objectively measured. Instead they become part of a historical process, influenced by different scientific analyses, because of their fascinating history.
Case Studies
During the initial phase of funding, the project will examine royal and other élite burials, such as the famous Oseberg and Gokstad ships from Norway, but also the monument of Jelling in Denmark and its increasingly complex interpretations. Like the Norwegian ships, this monument and the individuals linked to it are subject to a continued dynamic, influencing their reception in science, media and stagings. In addition to these Scandinavian examples the ship burial from Haithabu-Busdorf will be studied that never achieved a national ‘aura’, because after 1864 it happened to be located on the wrong, German, side of the border. During the second phase the élite burials of Hochdorf and from the Heuneburg, dating to the Hallstatt period, will be the focus of research. In contrast to the Danish and Norwegian monuments, the Celtic ‘prince’ and ‘princess’ play a role primarily in processes in individual,
not in national identity creation. They are used as a showcase for the local cultural heritage authorities and their potential for scientific analysis is fully utilized, as well as their potential to create media interest. And again, besides these archaeological ‘superstars’ there is another monument, leading a kind of wall-flower existence in comparison: the burial of the ‘Lady of Vix’. Additionally during the second phase of funding the start of a collaboration with anthropology is scheduled. Another geographic region – Central Asia – will be examined under the same perspective. A number of settlements and burials along the Silk Road are a crucial part of the process of nation-creation in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
During the third phase a study of identity creating temples in Cambodia (Angkor Wat) and India (Jagannath), both founded during the 12th cent. AD, is planned.
