Origins of decorated ostrich eggs in the ancient Mediterranean and Middle East

Tamar Hodos; Caroline Cartwright; Janet Montgomery; Geoff Nowell; Kayla Crowder; Alexandra Fletcher; Yvonne Goenster

doi:10.15184/aqy.2020.14

Origins of decorated ostrich eggs in the ancient Mediterranean and Middle East

Tamar Hodos, Caroline Cartwright, Janet Montgomery, Geoff Nowell, Kayla Crowder, Alexandra Fletcher, Yvonne Goenster

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

238 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Decorated ostrich eggs were traded around the Mediterranean during the Bronze and Iron Ages. Research on their origins has focused primarily on decorative techniques and iconography to characterise producers, workshops and trade routes, thereby equating decorative styles with cultural identities and geographical locations. This is problematic for these periods, as craftspeople were mobile and in service to foreign royal patrons. Consequently, the present study investigates geographical origin and reconsiders trade patterns via isotopic indicators. Scanning electron microscopy has also been used to characterise decorative techniques to assist in recognising culturally distinct decorative styles or regional preferences.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	381-400
Number of pages	20
Journal	Antiquity
Volume	94
Issue number	374
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2020.14
Publication status	Published - 9 Apr 2020

Keywords

ostrich eggs
Mediterranean
Middle East
North Africa
Bronze Age
Iron Age
isotopes
SEM

Access to Document

10.15184/aqy.2020.14

Full-text PDF (accepted author manuscript)
This is the author accepted manuscript (AAM). The final published version (version of record) is available online via Cambridge University Press at https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/origins-of-decorated-ostrich-eggs-in-the-ancient-mediterranean-and-middle-east/4392103E65123FEFD695B19723576C62 . Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
Accepted author manuscript, 5.35 MB

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Persistent link

Luxuries during the Mediterranean's Iron Age Period
Hodos, T., 2018, An Age of Luxury: the Assyrians to Alexander. Fletcher, A. (ed.). Hong Kong: Hong Kong Museum of History, p. 10-23
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter in a book

An Age of Luxury: from Assyria to Alexander
Hodos Lucas, T. (Principal Investigator)
15/11/16 → 6/07/20
Project: Consultancy
Globalising Luxuries
Hodos Lucas, T. (Principal Investigator)
1/11/16 → 31/10/21
Project: Research
Manipulated Luxuries : Manipulated luxury? A pilot study to identify techniques to distinguish how and where ostrich eggs were sourced in antiquity
Hodos Lucas, T. (Principal Investigator), Fletcher, A. (Co-Investigator), Goenster, Y. (Researcher) & Cartwright, C. (Researcher)
16/05/16 → 31/08/17
Project: Research

1 Invited talk
1 Participation in workshop, seminar, course
1 Public talk, debate, discussion

University of Leicester School of Ancient History and Archaeology Seminar Series
Hodos, T. (Invited speaker)
Feb 2019
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Invited talk
Extra-Ordinary: Unique and Common Artifacts as Social Actors
Hodos, T. (Invited speaker)
Dec 2018
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Global Luxuries in the Ancient Mediterranean World
Hodos, T. (Speaker)
Sept 2018
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Public talk, debate, discussion

Cite this

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title = "Origins of decorated ostrich eggs in the ancient Mediterranean and Middle East",

abstract = "Decorated ostrich eggs were traded around the Mediterranean during the Bronze and Iron Ages. Research on their origins has focused primarily on decorative techniques and iconography to characterise producers, workshops and trade routes, thereby equating decorative styles with cultural identities and geographical locations. This is problematic for these periods, as craftspeople were mobile and in service to foreign royal patrons. Consequently, the present study investigates geographical origin and reconsiders trade patterns via isotopic indicators. Scanning electron microscopy has also been used to characterise decorative techniques to assist in recognising culturally distinct decorative styles or regional preferences.",

keywords = "ostrich eggs, Mediterranean, Middle East, North Africa, Bronze Age, Iron Age, isotopes, SEM",

author = "Tamar Hodos and Caroline Cartwright and Janet Montgomery and Geoff Nowell and Kayla Crowder and Alexandra Fletcher and Yvonne Goenster",

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AU - Hodos, Tamar

AU - Cartwright, Caroline

AU - Montgomery, Janet

AU - Nowell, Geoff

AU - Crowder, Kayla

AU - Fletcher, Alexandra

AU - Goenster, Yvonne

PY - 2020/4/9

Y1 - 2020/4/9

N2 - Decorated ostrich eggs were traded around the Mediterranean during the Bronze and Iron Ages. Research on their origins has focused primarily on decorative techniques and iconography to characterise producers, workshops and trade routes, thereby equating decorative styles with cultural identities and geographical locations. This is problematic for these periods, as craftspeople were mobile and in service to foreign royal patrons. Consequently, the present study investigates geographical origin and reconsiders trade patterns via isotopic indicators. Scanning electron microscopy has also been used to characterise decorative techniques to assist in recognising culturally distinct decorative styles or regional preferences.

AB - Decorated ostrich eggs were traded around the Mediterranean during the Bronze and Iron Ages. Research on their origins has focused primarily on decorative techniques and iconography to characterise producers, workshops and trade routes, thereby equating decorative styles with cultural identities and geographical locations. This is problematic for these periods, as craftspeople were mobile and in service to foreign royal patrons. Consequently, the present study investigates geographical origin and reconsiders trade patterns via isotopic indicators. Scanning electron microscopy has also been used to characterise decorative techniques to assist in recognising culturally distinct decorative styles or regional preferences.

KW - ostrich eggs

KW - Mediterranean

KW - Middle East

KW - North Africa

KW - Bronze Age

KW - Iron Age

KW - isotopes

KW - SEM

U2 - 10.15184/aqy.2020.14

DO - 10.15184/aqy.2020.14

M3 - Article (Academic Journal)

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VL - 94

SP - 381

EP - 400

JO - Antiquity

JF - Antiquity

IS - 374

ER -

Origins of decorated ostrich eggs in the ancient Mediterranean and Middle East

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Handle.net

Fingerprint

Research output

Luxuries during the Mediterranean's Iron Age Period

Projects

An Age of Luxury: from Assyria to Alexander

Globalising Luxuries

Manipulated Luxuries : Manipulated luxury? A pilot study to identify techniques to distinguish how and where ostrich eggs were sourced in antiquity

Activities

University of Leicester School of Ancient History and Archaeology Seminar Series

Extra-Ordinary: Unique and Common Artifacts as Social Actors

Global Luxuries in the Ancient Mediterranean World

Cite this