Loom Weights and the Humanity within Objects not on Display
Semester: Spring 2024
Praxis Course: HART B420 Museum Studies Fieldwork Seminar
Faculty Advisor: Matthew Feliz
Field Site: The Penn Museum
Field Supervisor: Katherine Blanchard
Praxis Poster:
Anna Keneally_Poster_Final S24
Further Context:
During my time at the Penn Museum’s Near Eastern collection, under the supervision of Keeper Katherine Blanchard, my main tasks involved rehousing various artifacts from the Beth She’an site, located in modern-day Israel, and photographing them for inclusion in the digital database accessible to researchers. As we removed the objects from their original packaging, we ensured that each piece was accounted for before photographing them and placing them in new, clean bags. Each shelf and drawer presented a new array of materials representing different troves of material culture, stratified by excavation level and object type.
The Beth She’an site, which was my primary focus, was excavated in 1921. Over several excavation seasons, the museum acquired over 8,000 artifacts for its permanent collection, despite half of the finds being retained by the host country and now housed in the Rockefeller Museum in Jerusalem. For photography, we employed “shot-on” and “shot-down” techniques depending on the orientation of the objects. “Shot-on” photography emphasized the third dimension, ideal for objects like bowls and amphoras, while smaller items without a prominent third dimension, such as sherds, didn’t require this approach. By photographing and arranging the objects, I gained insights into their original use, enhancing my understanding and appreciation of their cultural significance.
Throughout this experience, I frequently photographed and rehoused loom weights, totaling over 100. Loom weights, typically made of clay or stone with a hole for securing strings on a loom, may appear visually similar at first glance. However, handling a large number of them allowed me to appreciate their diverse shapes and sizes, revealing the human aspect of material culture. Unlike artistic objects, loom weights prioritize function, serving as practical tools used in daily life. This aspect resonates with my love for material culture, as these artifacts provide glimpses into the lives of past peoples through seemingly mundane objects.
This experience afforded me the freedom to indulge my curiosity, challenging my interpretations of the past and deepening my interest in cultural heritage preservation. Not every day in a museum’s collections yields a significant find or groundbreaking discovery, but my passion lies in safeguarding objects for future generations, interpreting complex histories through visual culture, and connecting with past civilizations through the artifacts they left behind, even if it’s something as humble as a loom weight.