Morag Kersel's guest appearances

Morag Kersel

UC Classics Ancient World Podcasts

Oriental Institute Podcast

Gertrude Bell

Eric Cline

Ian Morris

Lisa Cooper

Robert McCormick

James Osborne

Russell Johnson

Irving Finkel

Ian Hodder

McGuire Gibson

Tyson Smith

Andrew George

Clifford Ando

David Ilan

Jerry Cooper

OwlTail

Truth or Consequences: The Public Display of Things from the Holy LandPresented by Morag M. Kersel, DePaul UniversityWhen museums place items on display they take on multiple roles as custodians of sacred relics, shapers of public interpretation, fiduciary institutions, and educational establishments. The public counts on the museum to tell the truth, to act ethically, and to be responsible and transparent in the presentation of the past–they place their trust in the organization. This lecture examines the differing strands of attachment to objects and the consequences created by the desire to “own,” interpret, and display the material remains from the Holy Land. A survey of exhibitions of artifacts from the Holy Land at institutions like the Royal Ontario Museum, the Israel Museum, and the Museum of the Bible allows for the consideration of truth and consequences in these museums. **This is an at home lecture, please excuse the audio quality.To learn more about the Eastern Badia Archaeological Project, click this link:https://oi.uchicago.edu/research/projects/eastern-badia This audio recording was originally presented as an illustrated lecture on October 14, 2020. The video of this lecture is available on the OI YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/WwWWQqT6OwQOur lectures are free and available to the public thanks to the generous support of our members. To become a member, please visit: http://bit.ly/2AWGgF72020, Oriental InstituteMusic credit: bensound.com

Truth or Consequences: The Public Display of Things from the Holy Land Presented by Morag M. Kersel, DePaul University When museums place items on display they take on multiple roles as custodians of sacred relics, shapers of public interpretation, fiduciary institutions, and educational establishments. The public counts on the museum to tell the truth, to act ethically, and to be responsible and transparent in the presentation of the past–they place their trust in the organization. This lecture examines the differing strands of attachment to objects and the consequences created by the desire to “own,” interpret, and display the material remains from the Holy Land. A survey of exhibitions of artifacts from the Holy Land at institutions like the Royal Ontario Museum, the Israel Museum, and the Museum of the Bible allows for the consideration of truth and consequences in these museums. **This is an at home lecture, please excuse the audio quality. To learn more about the Eastern Badia Archaeological Project, click this link: <a href="https://oi.uchicago.edu/research/projects/eastern-badia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://oi.uchicago.edu/research/projects/eastern-badia</a> This audio recording was originally presented as an illustrated lecture on October 14, 2020. The video of this lecture is available on the OI YouTube channel: <a href="https://youtu.be/WwWWQqT6OwQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/WwWWQqT6OwQ</a> Our lectures are free and available to the public thanks to the generous support of our members. To become a member, please visit: <a href="http://bit.ly/2AWGgF7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2AWGgF7</a> 2020, Oriental Institute Music credit: <a href="http://bensound.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bensound.com</a>

The Public Display of Things from the Holy Land by Morag Kersel

Pots from the City of Sin: The Consequences of Buying Holy Land Antiqueby Morag KerselAssociate Professor and Director of the Museum Studies Minor Program AnthropologyOriental Institute Members LectureWhatever the motive, the demand for archaeological artifacts from the Holy Land (modern Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian Territories) results in archaeological site destruction, theft from museums, and a compromised understanding of the past. Critical to understanding the mechanics of the antiquities trade and the motivations of the associated actors is the recognition of the commonality of demand – everyone wants to own a piece of the Holy Land. “Who doesn’t want a pot from the city of sin?” declared an interviewee when asked why they were purchasing an Early Bronze Age (3600-2000 BCE) artifact possibly from the site of Bab adh-Dhra’ (identified by some as biblical Sodom). Over 15 years of investigation have led to interesting insights related to why individuals and institutions want to own artifacts from the Holy Land? Tracing how pots move from the mound to the market to the mantelpiece or museum involves archaeological survey, aerial investigations using unpiloted aerial vehicles, archival research, and ethnographic interviews in order to understand better the competing claims for these archaeological objects and the deleterious effects on the landscape.This audio recording was originally presented as an illustrated lecture on March 6, 2019. The video of this lecture is available on the OI YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/NWHOIW0ih3Q

Pots from the City of Sin: The Consequences of Buying Holy Land Antique by Morag Kersel Associate Professor and Director of the Museum Studies Minor Program Anthropology Oriental Institute Members Lecture Whatever the motive, the demand for archaeological artifacts from the Holy Land (modern Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian Territories) results in archaeological site destruction, theft from museums, and a compromised understanding of the past. Critical to understanding the mechanics of the antiquities trade and the motivations of the associated actors is the recognition of the commonality of demand – everyone wants to own a piece of the Holy Land. “Who doesn’t want a pot from the city of sin?” declared an interviewee when asked why they were purchasing an Early Bronze Age (3600-2000 BCE) artifact possibly from the site of Bab adh-Dhra’ (identified by some as biblical Sodom). Over 15 years of investigation have led to interesting insights related to why individuals and institutions want to own artifacts from the Holy Land? Tracing how pots move from the mound to the market to the mantelpiece or museum involves archaeological survey, aerial investigations using unpiloted aerial vehicles, archival research, and ethnographic interviews in order to understand better the competing claims for these archaeological objects and the deleterious effects on the landscape. This audio recording was originally presented as an illustrated lecture on March 6, 2019. The video of this lecture is available on the OI YouTube channel: <a href="https://youtu.be/NWHOIW0ih3Q" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/NWHOIW0ih3Q</a>

Pots from the City of Sin by Morag Kersel