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.

Keywords:

• Biographical approach
• life history
• use life
• life-cycle
• relational approaches
• mirror
• Iron Age

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the anonymous reviewers, as well as Michael Shott and Gabriel Cooney. Their comments have substantially improved the content of this paper. I would also like to thank Duncan Garrow, J. D. Hill, Ben Roberts and Mansel Spratling who read and commented on earlier drafts. Many ideas presented here are the result of long discussions with Shaun Moyler, Ross Thomas and Julian Whitewright; thanks guys. Particular thanks must also go to my PhD supervisor Yvonne Marshall, Jill Cook and also Miriam Nathoo. All errors remain my own.

Department of Prehistory & Europe, The British Museum

jjoy@the britishmuseum.ac.uk