Reinvigorating object biography: reproducing the drama of object lives

Abstract

The World Archaeology volume 'The Cultural Biography of Objects' (Marshall and Gosden 1999) retains its currency ten years after its publication and the ideas highlighted in it continue to be developed. However, the relative success of biographical studies which rely on anthropological or historical information compared with biographical studies of prehistoric objects is evident. Through the example of a British Iron Age mirror this paper explores ways of redressing the difficulties of applying a biographical approach to prehistoric objects.

The Role of Stone in Island Societies in Neolithic Atlantic Europe: Creating Places and Cultural Landscapes

“…However, as Joy (2009) points out, the difficulty that archaeologists have in reconstructing object biographies is that they most often deal with objects whose social life was ended through discard or deposition (see LaMotta, 2012). Joy (2009) suggests that in dealing with this problem, archaeologists should draw on the biographical information in the artifact itself and recognize the non-linear biographies of objects. This approach facilitates setting objects in the contexts of the social relationships that constitute and activate them.…”

Sitios en altura y vasijas rotas: reconsiderando la etapa de ‘plenitud’ de Cogotas I (1450-1150 cal AC) en la Meseta

“…La expresión 'biografía cultural' (Kopytoff 1986: 66-68) se viene empleando en sentido metafórico para caracterizar la transformación física y semántica de los objetos, desde su manufactura o 'nacimiento' y hasta su descarte final o 'muerte' (Gosden y Marshall 1999: 169-170;Jones 2002: 83-84;Joy 2009). La premisa de este enfoque es simple: al participar en interacciones sociales las cosas son dotadas de significados culturales y dichas connotaciones, lejos de ser estáticas, suelen cambiar con las circunstancias (Sterner 1989: 453;Gosden y Marshall 1999: 170;Jones 2002: 84).…”

“…El estudio biográfico de un objeto trata de identificar aquellos episodios de su itinerario de uso o 'vida social' que han dejado algún rastro legible. Se trata de reconstruir una narración discontinua y a menudo parcial, pero siempre enriquecedora, del ciclo de existencia de una cosa (Joy 2009). …”

An archaeological study of the Zimbabwe Culture capital of Khami, southwestern Zimbabwe

“…By extension, any study of material culture, whether in the past or present, can enlighten us about its producers and users. The range of spheres that can be examined through the material evidence include the economy, technology, cultural contact, interaction, ritual and belief systems, as well as the social organisation (Prown 1982;Voigt 1983;Pwiti 1991;Pikirayi 1993;Schmidt 1996;Gosden and Marshall 1999;Manyanga 2000;Joy 2009). This chapter discusses some of the major issues in Material Culture Studies and how they help us to understand past societies.…”

“…Some objects are used for everyday purposes, ranging from utilitarian functions to more ceremonial and symbolic functions. As such, human beings indirectly reproduce themselves during the production and or consumption of the material objects (Prown 1982;Joy 2009). By extension, any study of material culture, whether in the past or present, can enlighten us about its producers and users.…”