Glass in the Ustinow collection : - objects without context?

Abstract

SUMMARY

The title of my project is posed as a question; Glass in the Ustinow collection objects without context? My point of departure was the prevailing opinion that an object without a find context is of lesser archaeological value than an object with a known find context, and that its archaeological value as such is questionable. At the same time objects belonging to the group of artifacts without find context often also belong to the group of highly valued objects for collectors and exhibitors, among them ancient glass objects. Often the latter is the cause of the first, since collectors demand for beautiful objects have spurred the illegal excavations and trade in archaeological artifacts.

During the project I have not only focused on retrieving and analyzing information relevant to the Ustinow collection, but at the same I have sought to develop a method that could be applied on other private collections, and eventually on objects other than glass. My notion was that if I was able to collect information about the collector, the artifacts, the history of the region of origin, its peoples, cultures and religions and then combine all this, I would stand a chance in providing at least some of the glass objects in the Ustinow collection with a range of contexts that to a certain extent would compensate for the lack of find context, and thereby increase the objects archaeological value.

And the question initially asked; Glass objects in the Ustinow collection objects without context? has as a result of the project received an answer; No, they are not without context. Having shown how objects seemingly of little archaeological value can be equipped with contexts and identity, and thereby being provided with an increased archaeological value, it is my hope that private collections in the future can be given the attention they deserve, and by means of the methods shown in this project be equipped with similar identities.