Shining a Light on Women and Children in Antiquity
Professor Brian Shefton (1919-2012) was a leading Classical archaeologist who established an internationally significant collection of Greek artefacts now located in the Great North Museum. The Great North Museum is the leading archaeological museum in the North East of England with over 450,000 visitors a year. The Shefton Collection is arguably the most important British collection of Greek and Etruscan archaeology outside London, Oxford and Cambridge.
About the project
The project is bringing to light a group of ten objects from the Collection which relate to the lives of women and children in antiquity. Some of the selected objects are not on public display while others are displayed with minimal interpretation. The project meaningfully engages with the public to generate new knowledge and research about the objects and Collection.
The CapCo-funded Newcastle Material Culture Analytical Suite (NeMCAS) will shine new light on the ‘lives’ of these objects and those who interacted with them by producing new learning about methods of manufacture, decorative techniques, iconography and conservation histories. Close investigation will facilitate a deeper understanding of the objects’ materiality enhancing the interpretation of their meaning and cultural significance. NeMCAS will facilitate high-quality documentation and digital models of the objects which will be used for both physical and virtual exhibition.
Funder: CapCo (Capability for Collections, AHRC) and Public Engagement Award
Duration: February 2022 - September 2022
PI and further team:
- Sally Waite (PI) - Classics and Ancient History, School of History, Classics and Archaeology
- Lisa Marie Shillito (CO-I) - Archaeology, School of History, Classics and Archaeology
- Andrew Parkin (CO-I) - Great North Museum)
Further information: To learn more about the Great North Museum's archaeology collections, visit their website.