'Archeological puzzles in a museum'

Presentation by Dr. Maria Joanna Mossakowska.

Abstract

The National Museum of Denmark holds 112 textile fragments from Roman, Byzantine, and Early Medieval Arab Egypt, comprising the richest ensemble in Denmark.

Systematic research on this collection started 1/5/2021, within the RECONTEXT research project entitled “Reconstructing the history of Egyptian textiles from the 1st Millennium AD at the National Museum of Denmark”. The project was funded by two Danish foundations – Aage og Johanne Louis-Hansens Fond and Beckett-Fonden – and led by Dr. Maria Mossakowska-Gaubert. Hosted by the Centre for Textile Research, Saxo Institute, University of Copenhagen, RECONTEXT was conducted in close collaboration with the National Museum of Denmark. RECONTEXT involved research carried out by historians, art historians, archaeologists and ancient fabric conservators. The project also included analyses of textile fibers and weaving techniques, as well as professional photographic documentation of the entire collection.

The results of these investigations are presented in the exhibition entitled Archeaological Puzzles in a Museum / Arkæologiske puslespil på et museum, which will be available for the public in March 2023 on the NMD website (https://natmus.dk/). The exhibition includes general information on what a collection of Egyptian textiles is, how it is created, and the methods of reconstructing its history and the objects that form it. It presents 30 selected fabrics, arranged according to the four stages of the collection’s history. For the visitor who wishes to go deeper into various topics, eight Case studies were prepared.

A free discussion among all participants will follow the lecture.

See the Preliminary schedule for CTR meetings and lectures spring 2023 (pdf)

Zoom Link

You can join us on Zoom if you are unable to attend the event in person.

We expect everybody to turn on the camera and have your name as the “name tag”. It will be possible to join the discussion but until personally addressed, we ask all participants to be muted.

CTR Meeting

The preceding hour (at 14:00-15:00), is mainly considered an administrative meeting for CTR members. Yet, if anyone else wants to join, you are most welcome. The meeting will consist of general administrative and CTR-related news and information as well as a round of “News around the table”, where everybody is expected to give a short update on their projects. Anyone participating during this part is expected to join in, regardless of whether or not you are a CTR member.