Tag: Jericho skull

The Ashmolean Museum’s Top Five Treasures

The oldest museum in the world, opens its doors to the public after a mammoth five-year revamp tomorrow. And the curators of Oxford’s famous Ashmolean will be hoping a new 61million building will help visitors enjoy and understand an envious collection of artefacts from the cradle of civilisation onwards.

The collection certainly has an esteemed pedigree, having been added to by archaeological greats like Arthur Evans, discoverer of the Palace of Knossos in Crete. So on the eve of one of its biggest days, what are the Ashmolean’s best objects?

1. The Jericho Skull

Shells and Skull

This skull, from 7,000 BC Jericho – one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on the planet – embodies (or enheads) everything great about the mystery and macabre of early civilisation. This particular example was discovered in 1953, after which others have been found as far flung as the Ukraine. Were they the world’s first portraits?

The morbidity of its cowrie shell-inlaid eyes certainly hum with the dark fascination early cultures had for turning death into art. After all, this guy was walking, talking and living just the same as you and I once.

2. King Scorpion’s Macehead

The Ashmolean is home to the largest pre-Dynastic Egyptian collection outside Egypt itself, so no surprise the empire’s earliest leaders are accounted for well. This intricate piece is one of the era’s most important objects, effectively bringing into existence King Scorpion, for whom there is no other material evidence. The item’s ostensible use was as the bludgeoning attachment for a mace. Yet this one is so big it would probably need two men – kings or not – to cause a decent amount of damage.

Made from limestone, it was found in 1897/98 by Brit explorers James E. Quibell and Frederick W. Green in Hierakonopolis. Some experts believe that Scorpion, thought to have ruled around 3,200 BC, and his successor Narmer (owner of the renowned Narmer Palette) were one and the same; others that this was a gift from Narmer to Scorpion. It’d probably take you too long to gather enough evidence for yourself, so just enjoy the macehead. Oh, and did I mention this was the inspiration for the film The Scorpion King, starring The Rock? Avoid the temptation to smash it to pieces on your next visit.

3. Mycenaean Linear B Tablets

Mycenaean Linear B Tablet 2 Ashmolean Museum Oxford.JPG

A bit of a cheat picking multiple artefacts, but it’s my list so there. Not only could you spend all day staring at these pre-Hellenistic masterpieces, they’re also incredibly important in deciphering the Minoan culture and their Linear B language.

Discovered by Arthur Evans on one of his many missions to Crete at the turn of the 20th century, these formed the basis for his long-running efforts to decode the earliest writing of an almost mythical Bronze Age nation, which would go on to spawn one of the world’s greatest cultures.

4. Alfred Jewel

The Alfred Jewel, Ashmolean Museum

This amazing 9th century AD Saxon ornament was first discovered in 1693, just ten years after the Ashmolean was built. Thus it is one of the museum’s longest-standing objects, and still one of its most spectacular. It is fashioned from gold with quartz crystal and the cloisonn enamel image of a man, and was found in the Somerset town of North Petherton, the site of a once-great monastery founded by King Arthur.

The ornamentis inscribed with the words ‘Alfred Ordered Me Made’ – so there’s no mistaking who it belongs to. Bit better than the labels sewn into your school clothes, eh?

The Ashmolean houses the largest collection of pre-Dynastic Egyptian treasures outside Egypt itself.

5. Fired Clay Hippopotamus

Egyptian Hippo - Egyppo

It may look innocuous enough, but this small hippo is one of the Ashmolean’s showcase pre-Dynastic Egyptian artefacts. Though they may not have carried divine qualities at the time (around 3,500 BC) hippos went on to become the hippo fertility goddess Taweret – ‘The Great One’ – in later dynasties.

They would definitely have been respected, mind – they’re still the deadliest animal in Africa today. Found in Hu, Upper Egypt, this model was found at the end of a grave; implying hippos helped early Egyptians reach their version of the afterlife over 5,000 years ago.

Ashmolean, World’s Oldest Museum, Reopening this Weekend

The Ashmolean Museum

The oldest museum in the world reopens its doors tomorrow, after a mammoth five-year revamp. Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum has enjoyed a 61million cash injection into its ageing building, recasting all but its Victorian Cockerell building facade. Rick Mather’s new creation allows the museum’s myriad treasures much more space, adding 39 galleries and 10,000sq metres of exhibition space.

The museum, founded in 1683, has been closed to the public since December last year, as the final pieces have been put in place. Funding has come from a number of high-profile sources, including the Heritage Lottery Fund, Linbury Trust (Lord Sainsbury’s charity) and Oxford Thinking; a campaign for the University of Oxford. Fans can have their name inscribed on the museum’s ‘Benefactor Bridge’ for 50 each, and some galleries have already been sponsored: Saudi Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud is patron of the Islamic Arts collection.

“Rick Mather made very good use of space,” says museum director Dr Christopher Brown. “Such a large undertaking meant that we could think anew about how to display the collection.”

Three thousand object mounts have been created, lit by 1,370 new spotlights. The museum’s curators hope its cutting-edge design will allow visitors to see its many wonderful objects in the context of the culture to which they belonged. The Ashmolean strives to show the progression through human history. Visitors can walk through Greece and Rome through to the Near East and India. The museum’s ancient highlights include Egyptian mummy portraits, a 9,000 year-old skull from Jericho and the Anglo-Saxon Alfred Jewel. The museum has endured some

39 galleries, 10,000sq metres, 3,000 object mounts, 1,370 spotlights. It’s a mammoth overhaul.

scandal recently, as Egypt’s Supreme Council of Anitiquities suspended its excavations over allegedly ‘stolen’ artefacts.

The Ashmolean was founded 326 years ago by revered antiquary Elias Ashmole, after its first five-year construction. It is the world’s oldest public museum, beating Florence’s Uffizi (built in 1581 but not then publicly open) by 82 years. Its last development came in 1845, when its much-loved main building was commissioned by Charles Cockerell. Much of the museum’s celebrated Minoan and Greek collection came from the expeditions of archaeologistArthur Evans, famous for his discovery of Crete’s Palace of Knossos. The Ashmolean houses some of the world’s greatest ancient treasures. Only time can tell if its latest chapter proves as successful as its past.

Look out for an interview with Ashmolean curator Dr Jack Green on Heritage Key – coming soon!