Museum digs up 75 year history

This year marks the University's platinum anniversary in archaeology, and the Kelsey Museum has 75 years of fieldwork and about 100,000 objects to show for it - more than enough reason to see the new celebration exhibit. Beginning in 1924, the museum has helped support and sponsor more than 20 archaeological research projects. From excavation to surface reconnaissance in the Mediterranean and Near East, this exhibit displays statues, glass work, tomb stones, scriptures, pottery and more.

In the '20s and '30s, many of the projects' discoveries seemed to go unnoticed due to the fact that they were often divided between the host country and the institution sponsoring the work. But the museum does still hold many of the pieces from the first two decades of research. With maps and photographs of many of the sites and momentary discoveries, the exhibit offers a retrospective of the past 75 years of fieldwork supported by the Kelsey Museum.

The Kelsey work has always focused on the margins of the Mediterranean and Near East. Kelsey's first project dealt with two sites, Karanis, a Graeco-Roman town in Egypt, and Antioch of Pisidia, a Roman colony in Asia Minor. Karanis was ultimately a huge success with 45,000 findings shipped to Ann Arbor for display. With the exception of the Cairo Museum, the Kelsey offers the best representation of daily life in Graeco-Roman Egypt during that time period.

The Karanis pieces displayed include a glass series. The seven glass vessels shown were discovered in 1927 by a University archaeologist. There were three additional flasks found as well, which were discovered to be concealed inside a pottery jar. It is said that the glass works were treasured pieces passed down through generations despite their ability to be reproduced.

Other major sites include Egypt, North Africa, Israel, Iraq and Carthage, the famous city-state and rival of Rome. Beginning in 1925, archaeologists from the University started their excavations, discovering burial urns with the remains of sacrificed infants. But because of a pause during World War II, fieldwork did not resume until the mid-'50s when the museum once again sponsored a series of projects in Libya and Syria.

As you enter the museum, the exhibit area is divided into rooms each containing different sites and time periods. In the Greece, Etruria and Rome section, between 1,000 BC and 500 AD, the display includes carved marble statues of an emperor, an empress and many other people of the time. Researchers deduced this based on hairstyles, marble types, and clothes worn by the subjects. Also on display is "The Alcman Mosaic," made up of marble and glass tessarae, which was created in the second century AD by the Greek poet Alcman. It is one of only two of its kind. This room also holds marble tombstones inscribed for the gods of the underworld as well as free blown glass, a landmark development of 50 BC. There is a display by a history of art class, Archaeology 221, which contains black-figure pottery.

Another highlight is the coffin of Djheutymose found in Egypt between 685 and 525 BC. This painted wooden container is decorated with intricate design both inside and out. But the display explains that the shoulder area of the coffin is slightly shaved away because upon Djheutymose's burial it was discovered that his body was too large for the case.

The Kelsey Museum displays these artifacts and their background information in comprehensive and aesthetically appealing ways. With mirrors placed beneath large pieces on stands and detailed descriptions explaining the archaeological and historical backgrounds, the exhibit is user friendly and educational.

01-25-99