In order to complete this museum report, I visited the Bowers Museum that is located in Santa Ana. The visit and the entire experience was fun for me because it gave me an opportunity to learn in an entirely different and stimulating environment. History is not as much fun when sitting in class and talking about people and cultures that one cannot relate to. Thus, going to the museum makes the learning experience relatable and easier to understand. This was my second time visiting the Bowers Museum. This visit brought back memories because the last time I was there, was when I visited with my children, a few years back.
The layout of artifacts had changed a little since my last visit. The entrance of the museum wasn’t that big and impressive, as I remembered. As I entered, there was a big hallway with a huge opening. The opening had numerous tall wooden Chinese artifacts that created a welcoming ambiance to all visitors at the Museum. When I entered, I followed the sign to the front cashier and purchased a ticket where I was showed by one of the staff to the first American section.
In the American section, there was a small hallway with many smaller statues that promoted the American heritage. The small hall way led to a room with a few openings with different sections. On one entry to my right was the entrance to the Maya exhibition and there was a television screen showing a documentary movie on how the Mayans developed as a people and culture. Straight ahead of me was the first Californians exhibition. This was the exhibition that most attracted me and I headed there first.
My visit exposed me to numerous artifacts but for the purpose of this study, I paid great attention to only three artifacts. This meant I asked questions at every opportunity and the staff tried their best to answer me accurately. The listed items are discussed below.
- Guanyin
One of the artifacts that caught my eye was Guanyin that is made of wood. From the description provided under the statue, I discerned that it is carved from a single piece of wood which gives it the seamless finish it had and is painted with red, white and blue colors to give it a golden look. The statue is dated to have been made between 1600 and 1644 during the late Ming Dynasty and was a gift presented to the Emperor. It was cataloged at the Museum in 2005 which is quite a surprise that I did not notice it the last time I was there.
The statue bears its origins but somehow found its way to China. In India, the statue was considered a male Buddhists a male member of their mission but when it arrived in China, it was considered a Goddess of Mercy. While Guanyin was mortal among the Indians, she was considered immortal among the Chinese. In the statue, she strikes a pose on the lotus throne that helps depict her royalty. According to the information typed under the statue, the lotus flower represents purity and freedom from all impurities associated with the world and thus proving her godliness. There are also fish under the lotus flower..
Even though this piece was from ancient China, it was very interesting as the Museum guide told me of its origin and the story of what the artifact symbolizes. The statue according to him was a symbol of all purity and what is good in the world. Though not quite sure, the guide believed that Guanyin was considered a protector of the distressed and especially those at sea. This could be explained by the fish under the lotus flower. The guide explained that the Guanyin was a very powerful and revered being that served to help those in problem.
- The First California Home
Another exhibit that I visited and interested me was the First Californians Homeland that was located in a relatively small room; the entrance was a few steps down and all the walls were covered with small hand-made artifacts made by Red Indians. Southern California was homeland to a number of Indian groups. The phrase first Californians refers to the indigenous people that live in the California region and thus the exhibit is in honor of the indigenous groups in the region. According to the information, the first Californians were hunters and gathers thus had to get all their food, clothes as well as shelter from things in the surrounding environment. Most of the foods that they got around their area of residence were fruit and nuts.
The indigenous groups were composed of different grouping and each group had discerning characteristics that made it unique from the rest. Based on the written article on the entrance of the exhibit, the Chumash and the Gabrielino (also known as Tongva).I have a few pictures plus a few information about the artifact please describe this part a little in detail and I believe it can be related to text book
- William Wendt Painting
one of the painting that I liked was by William Wendt (1865-1946) the name of painting was looking up the Canyon also Frank Coburn, Olvera streetI have a few pictures plus some information about the artifact.. Please explain these two artifacts
Conclusion
In archaeology not only do the physical location of a discovery which holds significance, but the context or setting as well is important but also the archeological context refers to a geographical place, the event can also be the same time which has to been preserved in the archaeological record of the museum and opened to the publics. Multiple fills of soil for instance as an example could imply multiple context by separating a site into basic discrete units
They were already placed in placed in ancient’s tombs. The important part is the recognition of the language and their origins of the ancient people consist in the studying their grave goods closely in search on inscriptions. Small but telltale comments. They often occur on objects that look not so important but also forms some part of household or artisan’s equipment. Some famous and well preserved grave goods are those found in ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptians believed that goods which were buried in tombs could be used by the deceased in their afterlife.
Maddens dumps which contain human waste contained a variety of archeological material including animal bone, feces, shell, botanical materials, plants, vermin, and shreds. The other eco-facts associated with past human habitation. Maddens are useful resources for archeologists who wish to study the diet and the habits of past societies. Anaerobic conditions can even preserve organic remains which can be analyzed to obtain information regarding climate and their seasonal use. Shell madden provide information on diet, harvesting techniques and subsistence economy and seasonality
A hoard is a collection of artefacts purposely buried underground. Usually with the intention to recover them at a later date. Hoarders often times died before retrieving their loot and these surviving artifacts can sometime be uncovered at a later time by hobbyists with metal detectors or by archeologists. Hoards provide a useful method of determining the dates of artifacts. They can also, sometimes indicate the degree of conflict or war in an ancient society. For example circumstances in fifth and sixth century Britain spurred the burial of several famous hoards whose remains can be seen today at the British museum in London.
A votive deposit is an object left in a sacred place for ritual purpose. A distinctive example would be that of the Roman Church where offerings were made to fulfill their vow or the objects given in church as gratitude for some favor that was granted earlier. Today it can be lit candles or flowers. Donations can also be offered such as those deposited into a fountain or alter.
Artifacts are mostly called and finds when handled during archeological excavation. Artifacts are related to the archeological record by their position defined by the archeological context which they were discovered in. This is important for Verification and relative dating analysis of a particular artefact and is closely related to work of post excavation using Hamish Matrix that had created during the excavation process. The Harris Matrix is a tool developed by British archeologists Edward Cecil to assist in the examination and interpretation of archeological sites.
Bibliography
Bowers Museum. Bowers Museum. 2014. Web. 26 Novemeber 2014. <http://www.bowers.org/>.
Davidson, James West, et al. Experience History: Interpreting America's Past. New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2010. Print.
