St. John Simpson
Assistant Keeper, British Museum
How was it made? What was it used for? Why does it look like that now? How do we know? These sorts of questions are common in archaeology and museums alike but, in order to answer them, we have to keep thinking of new techniques. This lecture looks at how new research at the British Museum has thrown new light on evidence for polychromy, manufacturing techniques, and the function of different objects from ancient Mesopotamia, Iran and Afghanistan.
Image: Scientific analyses of 6th-4th century BC Achaemenid gold, silver and glass tablewares reveals important details of how they were made. Reproduced courtesy of the Trustees of the British Museum.
Come early and take a docent-led tour of the museum galleries at 6:30 p.m. Lectures are free and open to the public thanks to the generous support of Oriental Institute Members and Volunteers. For the complete Oriental Institute lecture series schedule and details visit oi.uchicago.edu/events.
6:30-7:00 p.m. Pre Lecture Tour/Registration 7:00-8:00 p.m. Presentation and discussion 8:00-8:45 p.m. Reception
Lecture has been moved across the street to Ida Noyes Hall Theatre, 1212 E. 59th Street. It begins at 7 p.m.
