History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology Commons^™

Fall 2025 Digsight, Southern Adventist University

DIGSIGHT - Institute of Archaeology Newsletter

Fall 2025 issue of the Archaeology newsletter DigSight. Features the article "Vessels in Time."

77 | Khirbat ‘Amra: A Rural Site From The Hellenistic To Early Islamic Periods In The BeʼEr Sheva‘ Valley, Itamar Taxel, Noé D. Michael

IAA Reports—Monograph Series of the Israel Antiquities Authority

This volume constitutes the final report of the large-scale salvage excavations directed by Gil Tahal on behalf of the IAA in 1993–1994 at the site of Khirbat ‘Amra, in the north-central area of the Be’er Sheva‛ Valley. The excavations revealed architectural remains and finds dated mainly to the Hellenistic until the Early Islamic periods, in addition to scantier remains or isolated finds from the Chalcolithic period, the Iron Age II and the Ottoman period. Khirbat ‘Amra is one of the largest multiperiod sites in the Be’er Sheva‛ Valley, specifically in the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods. Furthermore, Tahal’s excavations were …

V.1 Fall 2025, Center For Arts & Language, Students Of Risd, Risd Archives

All Student Newspapers

v.1 is a publishing platform for the ongoing work, ideas, discussions, debates, and aspirations of students at the Rhode Island School of Design. The Fall 2025 issue contains articles on the intersection of the natural world and human experience, technology, identity, immigration, activism, divestment, institutional history, political resistance, decolonization, and the digital vs. physical realms. The issue contains experimental poetry, visual essays, and reflections on the "nature of publication".

'In A Mirror, Dimly, Then Face To Face:' Reflecting On Bodily Sin And Spiritual Purity In The Central Female Figures Of Hugo Van Der Goes' Vienna Diptych, Sara Kluka

Theses

This thesis seeks to examine the so-called Vienna Diptych (1478/1479) by Hugo van der Goes. The two panels of the diptych have been displayed together since the 19th century, yet difficulties in provenance and the dating of the artist’s oeuvre have resulted in the continued questioning of its intended creation as a single campaign. This research seeks to assert the diptych’s thematic unity through a concentrated analysis of its leading female figures, a vantage point that has not yet been fully addressed in the literature. This paper will therefore examine the iconographic precedents for the unique imagery of the panels …

Ambiguous Bodies: Third Gender Expressions In Ancient Maya Art, Jayme Horne

Theses

This thesis examines the interpretations of Lintels 23, 24, and 25 from Yachilán, Drawing 18 from Naj Tunich, and Stela H from Copán, with a specific focus on third gender expression. These artworks depict figures that blend masculine and feminine attributes, from costuming to actions, to present intentionally ambiguous representations of the body that all ancient Maya people would have understood. Third gender expression is defined through the blending of masculine and feminine signifiers. It is a gender identity for people who do not identify as male or female, but rather as neither, both, or a combination of male and …

Immersive Art, Nature, And Afrofuturism: Cultivating Wellness And Cultural Awareness, Jojo Abenaavi Wright

Theses

This research demonstrates how Afrofuturistic art, combined with nature and scent, enables powerful methods to transform African Diaspora perceptions and support holistic wellness through sensory-emotional engagement. The project introduces The Next Narrative: An Immersive Journey Through Black Time as a multisensory immersive exhibition that combines Afrofuturistic aesthetics with Harlem Renaissance cultural elements. The exhibition presents salons as a sequence that allows visitors to experience time through visual, sonic, and atmospheric transitions. The three senses of touch, scent, and sound operate as fundamental tools for grounding and transformation, which disable analytical thinking while using bodily experiences to perform decolonial memory work. …

The Mystical Kitchen: Feminist Magic And Alchemical Transformation In The Work Of Lenora Carrington, Theresa Burwell

Theses

This thesis analyzes the inherent feminism in alchemical and magical symbolism, particularly in representations of kitchens in the art and writing of Leonora Carrington. The kitchen has historically been viewed as a gendered space for domestic work. By subverting cultural and religious conventions, Carrington’s kitchen becomes a site for transmutation and feminine ritual. Using feminist discourse, formal art historical analysis, and the history of alchemical symbolism, this thesis asserts that Carrington’s imagery transforms the kitchen from an oppressive domestic space to a mystical laboratory of feminine power. A thorough analysis of Grandmother Moorhead’s Aromatic Kitchen (1975) and The House Opposite …

Dependency In Romantic Relationships: Bloom’S Other In Ulysses, Lydia Smaciarz

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Christopher Schedler, PhD

James Joyce’s Ulysses explores themes of love, grief, religion, culture, and identity while following the journey of Leopold Bloom, a husband and father who has a problematic sense of Self. Bloom’s difficulty to find himself is prominently shown through his relationship with his wife, Molly, with whom he no longer has a healthy romantic relationship. Bloom reminisces on several memories with Molly which expose the reason for his lack of Self – his dependence on Molly. This presentation applies Jacques Lacan’s concept of “The Mirror Stage” to Bloom’s nostalgic memories of Molly in Ulysses. …

Frida Kahlo: More Than The Unibrow, A Cultural Feminist Analysis, Karen Valencia

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Erika Pazian

Frida Kahlo has been a common name in the art historical canon – one that reinvented Surrealism, despite not identifying with the style, and challenged conventional norms in artistic practices. Many of her works are discussed in Mexican art historical settings, however, the research of this paper will point the bulk of its focus directly onto The Two Fridas, offering additional discussion on how it connects to feminist theory. Kahlo was a deeply complicated woman, reduced to her bus incident, or tumultuous relationship with muralist Diego Rivera. The materials used as sources in this paper will …

Preserving Cultural Identity In Multi-Function Real Estate Developments, Khloud Khalid Eldamshiry

Architectural Engineering

The proliferation of multi-function real-estate developments (MRD) frequently leads to the erosion of unique architectural identity (AI), threatening the historical and cultural character of urban areas. This research addresses a critical gap in understanding how new developments can effectively preserve and leverage local cultural heritage. Grounded in the theoretical understanding of heritage-led urban regeneration, this study aims First, to identify the specific architectural elements and design strategies crucial for preserving cultural sustainability (CS) in multi-function real estate projects; and second, to quantify the perceived impact of these strategies on local community engagement and economic viability. The hypothesis posits that multi-function …

Retelling A Tale In Pictures: A Fusion Of The Arts In A Medieval Emaki Of The Japanese Court Romance Geni Npo Monogatori "Tale Of Genji", Sheena Woods

The Ozark Historical Review

The Genji no monoga ta ri 源氏の物語, the Tale of Genji, b y the Japanese court lady Murasak i Shi kibu 紫式部 ( c . 9 7 3 – c . 1014), thought to have been completed around the year 1008, is one literary masterpiece of the Heian 平安 period (794–1185) that has been adapted for retelling many times. A little over one hundred years after its conception it had been adapted and lavishly illustrated as an emaki 絵 or “ picture scroll." This paper provides a discussion on the importance of the emaki to the representation of this early …

Assertions Of Monastic Identity And Power In The Cloister And Nave Of St. Gall, John D. Treat

The Ozark Historical Review

The Carolingian monastery lived in an unresolved tension between the purity of separation from the world and the benefits to be gained from secular engagement. To confront this dilemma, the parts of the monastery received new layers of symbolic meaning, opening some spaces to lay penetration while shielding others more securely. Here I will examine the monastic cloister and the nave of the abbey church as instances of these two tendencies.

Stamps Of The World: Treatment And Research Of A Three-Volume Stamp Collection, Devon M. Blankenbaker

Art Conservation Master's Projects

This master’s project focused on three key areas: cataloging materials, treating book structures, and investigating green stamp pigments. Each section was chosen to build my skills as a conservator. By applying archival processing techniques, I gained a deeper understanding of the collection and identified the albums in the project. Diagrams and a finding aid improved my confidence in archival work. Treating album structures offered valuable experience in dry cleaning, tear repair, and board reattachment, helping me apply knowledge across multiple volumes and prepare for future treatments. The scientific analysis, using XRF and FTIR, provided insight into green stamp pigments and …

Review Of Jerusalem And Other Holy Places As Foci Of Multireligious And Ideological Confrontation, Rivka Ulmer

Other Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Historical Research And Conservation Treatment Of An Oversized 19th-Century Subscription Family Bible, Charlotte Starnes

Art Conservation Master's Projects

This paper briefly examines the construction, materials, and conservation challenges of 19th-century subscription Bibles, focusing on the treatment of an 1885 Thomas Kelly Latin Vulgate Family Bible. These large-format, heavily decorated volumes represent the unique intersection of industrialized book production and traditional hand-binding techniques. Through the visual comparison of multiple subscription Bible structures and canvasser’s sample books, historical research, and survey responses from conservators, this project identifies key structural features, including hybrid board attachment methods, varied sewing techniques, and the sculpted two-board coverboard structure. X-radiography, microscopy, and preliminary XRF analysis provide further insights into material choices, such as the use …

Mollusks From Crusader-Period ‘Akko, The Knights’ Hotel Site, Inbar Ktalav

'Atiqot

This study analyzes mollusk remains collected during the 2007 excavation season at the Knights’ Hotel site in ‘Akko, which was part of a Crusader-period residential neighborhood. A total of 538 shells were identified, including marine shells from the Mediterranean and Red Seas, freshwater shells and land snails. The analysis of these shells sheds light on the lives of the Crusader-period residents of ‘Akko, including their trade connections and use of shells for construction, ornamentation, pigment containers and raw material for the inlay industry.

The Metal Finds From ‘Akko, The Knights’ Hotel Site, Joppe Gosker

'Atiqot

The 2007 excavation at the Knights Hotel Site yielded about 170 metal finds, mostly iron or copper alloy, though silver and gilded items were also found. Some objects associated with warfare may have been linked to the final battle of ‘Akko in 1291 CE, but most of the finds relate to daily life, encompassing activities such as horse keeping, dress, foodways, medicine and construction. The dominance of Eastern-type arrowheads indicates that local traditions were sometimes adopted, certainly for the arrows if not the bows. Concerning dress accessories, the overall impression is of European traditions. It seems that the Franks preferred …

Fragments Of A Crusader-Period Chancel Screen From ‘Akko, The Knights’ Hotel Site, Vardit R. Shotten-Hallel

'Atiqot

The phrase ‘where [or: when] least expected’ is rarely used in archaeology. In fact, when excavating a cesspit, the opposite is often true. Cesspits are precisely where archaeologists expect to uncover hoards of household artifacts, like pottery and glass, or sometimes valuables, dislocated sculptures and even skeletons. In this regard, the excavation at the Knights’ Hotel site in ‘Akko is no exception. Four richly decorated marble fragments were found in a cesspit, integrated in the shaft’s wall as part of repair work. A stylistic analysis, and consideration of the historical context of their deposition, revealed an unexpected possibility regarding their …

Stone Objects From ‘Akko, The Knights’ Hotel Site, Anastasia Shapiro

'Atiqot

Four stone objects were retrieved during the 2007 excavation season at the Knights’ Hotel site: three whetstones and one bead. Besides the routine registration of measurements and visual description, the specimens were examined under a binocular microscope at ×20 and ×40 magnifications, with the aid of 5% dilute hydrochloric acid and a steel needle. This procedure made it possible to define the lithology of the rock that the objects were made of and to trace use features like minor scratches, which usually receive little attention.

Crusader-Period Glass Finds From ‘Akko, The Knights’ Hotel Site, Yael Gorin-Rosen

'Atiqot

This article discusses the glass finds uncovered during the 2007 excavation season at the Knights’ Hotel site and complements the report of the 1995 season. This collection of glass vessels is significant as it expands our knowledge concerning the variety of types produced in the local workshops and includes a variety of vessels from other production centers. Together, the finds from both seasons emphasize the richness and diversity of Crusader-period glassware and artifacts during the thirteenth century, before the fall of ‘Akko in 1291.

Tobacco Pipes From ‘Akko, The Knights’ Hotel Site, Anastasia Shapiro

'Atiqot

The study of 111 Ottoman tobacco pipes and three nargile heads from the excavation of the Knights’ Hotel site in ‘Akko illuminates the smoking habits of the population of this quarter of the city between the early seventeenth and mid-nineteenth centuries. The dates, provenance and typology of the pipes are based on the results of previous studies. The latest date of most of the pipes in this corpus may be related to an explosion during the siege of 1840, after which the quarter remained unoccupied.

Petrographic And Microscopic Examination Of Crusader-Period Pottery From ‘Akko, The Knights’ Hotel Site, Anastasia Shapiro

'Atiqot

A petrographic and microscopic study was undertaken for 14 Crusader-period vessels from the Knight’ Hotel site in ‘Akko. The petrographic analysis confirmed the presumed Egyptian origin of twelve vessels, while the microscopic examination of two pithoi suggested that their raw material originated within an ophiolitic complex found in Venice and its vicinity.

Crusader-Period Ceramics From The Knights’ Hotel Site, ‘Akko, Edna J. Stern, Nohar Shahar

'Atiqot

The Crusader-period ceramic assemblage unearthed in the Knights’ Hotel site in ‘Akko contains a large variety of daily wares. The assemblage consists of local and imported wares from various regions, some of which were identified through petrographic analysis. The imported wares indicate trade connections with Mediterranean port cities, and the petrographic analysis identified a new group of vessels from Egypt’s northern Nile region. The article outlines the pottery typology and quantification, and presents the ceramic distribution within the excavated urban area. The findings indicate changes in land use, as some residential and commercial areas were converted into dumps and cesspits. …

Daily Life And Industry In Crusader ‘Akko: The Knights’ Hotel Site, Danny Syon

'Atiqot

This report details the second season of excavations at the Knights’ Hotel site, carried out in 2007, covering three areas (A–C) not excavated in the first season (1995). The excavations revealed domestic and public(?) architecture dating from the thirteenth century CE. The architectural features are mostly similar to the ones exposed in the first season and include an abundance of water and sanitary installations: cisterns, wells and cesspits. The mixed character of this neighborhood of the capital of the Crusader kingdom of Jerusalem, and the daily life of its residents is highlighted by the wealth of pottery and glass vessels …

Remains Of Two Iron Age Iib–C(?) Updraft Pottery Kilns At The Foot Of Tel Gamma (Tell Jemma), Davida Eisenberg-Degen, Ilana Peters, Svetlana Talis, Yael Abadi-Reiss, Emily Bischoff Bruintjes, Yotam Asscher

'Atiqot

An excavation southwest of Tel Gamma exposed two Iron Age II updraft pottery kilns and a refuse pit. The eastern kiln was only partially preserved; its fill contained workshop debris and storage-jar wasters. The better-preserved western kiln retained an almost intact, elongated combustion chamber with two sets of mud-brick flues and evidence of periodic upkeep. An activity layer was identified between and around the kilns, from which a mixed Iron IIA–C ceramic assemblage and a few stone artifacts were collected. The stone artifacts likely served in fine grinding and burnishing. In the refuse pit, potsherds, vitrified bricks, animal bones and …

A Middle Bronze Iia Pottery Production Site On The Northern Bank Of NaḥAl Soreq, Near Yavne-Yam, Lily Singer-Avitz, Yossi Levy, Etan Ayalon

'Atiqot

A Middle Bronze Age IIA pottery production site was uncovered on the northern bank of Naḥal Soreq, near Yavne-Yam. Excavations revealed installations, including pits, an oven, a stone pavement and a two-story pottery kiln. The discovery of a potter’s wheel and petrographic analysis confirm local ceramic production using nearby ḥamra and kurkar materials. Stone anchors found on-site suggest the transport of vessels via small boats along the stream, connecting the site with nearby settlements such as Nabi Rubin and Yavne-Yam.

Middle Bronze Age Human Skeletal Remains From Nahal Rimmonim, Yossi Nagar

'Atiqot

The excavation at Nahal Rimmonim yielded the remains of seven individuals interred in jar burials and a grave dating, respectively, to Middle Bronze Age I–II and III. The MB I–II storage-jar burials were uncovered in a residential area, comprising three infants—a well-documented trait of the period. The MB III remains include the primary burial of four individuals in stone-built graves: three adults and a child aged three–four years.

The Faunal Assemblage From Nahal Rimmonim, An Intermediate And Middle Bronze Age Site In The Jezreel Valley, Zohar Turgeman-Yaffe

'Atiqot

The rural site of Naḥal Rimmonim yielded 421 identifiable animal bones that originated in well-stratified loci from five strata dating to the Intermediate and Middle Bronze Ages. The site’s economy seems to have been independent, or production-based, with residents providing most of their own needs while also trading with other groups. The economy was based on animal husbandry, with some hunting, mostly of gazelles, alongside the production of secondary products, such as milk, wool and labor, with a preference for wool. Pigs were the most common species in all domestic levels, including a unique pig burial. The faunal assemblage from …

The Flint Assemblage From Nahal Rimmonim, Ariel Vered

'Atiqot

The excavation at Naḥal Rimmonim yielded flint items dating to the Intermediate and Middle Bronze Ages, alongside intrusive highly patinated Middle Paleolithic artifacts. The Intermediate Bronze Age assemblage represents a local, expedient industry that produced simple flake tools from locally available lithic resources and long, regular blades, probably imported as blanks, continuing the Canaanean blade industry of the Early Bronze Age. The Middle Bronze Age assemblage attests to the production of flakes on which simple ad hoc tools were manufactured on locally available raw materials. The production of Canaanean blades ceased abruptly, probably when the Second Urban Revolution took place …

Petrographic Examination Of The Intermediate And Middle Bronze Age Vessels From Nahal Rimmonim, Anastasia Shapiro

'Atiqot

This paper presents petrographic data retrieved from samples taken from pottery found in the context of a Middle Bronze Age pottery workshop and from a domestic pottery assemblage dating from the Intermediate Bronze Age. The results for both periods mostly point to on-site and local production, contributing to our knowledge concerning pottery production and trade in the Jezreel Valley and adjacent areas.