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Age as Artefact: On Archaeological Authenticity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 January 2017

Cornelius Holtorf  and
Tim Schadla-Hall
Cornelius Holtorf
Affiliation:
University of Göteborg
Tim Schadla-Hall
Affiliation:
University College London
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Abstract

Authenticity is frequently seen as crucial in archaeology. In this paper, we examine the nature of authenticity and question by implication whether so much attention should be given to determining the actual age and thus the genuineness of archaeological objects. We show that numbers of authenticated objects are potentially fakes. There is an acceptance that many archaeological sites and reconstructions are not actually really old, although the acceptability of this view depends on one's flexibility towards the concept of authenticity. It is clear that the public does not necessarily put the same value on genuineness as do archaeologists. We suggest that certain aspects of the past have always been a potentially renewable resource. We suggest that a more relaxed approach to genuineness and authenticity is acceptable today and is already accepted by the public as consumers of the past.

En archéologie, on a souvent accordé l'authenticité une importance primordiale. Dans cet article, nous examinons la nature de l'authenticité et nous nous demandons s'il est réellement nécessaire d'accorder autant d'importance la détermination de l'âge réel et donc de l'authenticité des objets archéologiques. Nous demontrons que bon nombre d'objets authentifiés sont potentiellement des faux. Il est admis qu'un grand nombre de sites archéologiques et de réconstructions ne sont en fait pas réellement anciens, ce point de vue dépend toutefois de la flexibilité de chacun vis à vis du concept d'authenticite. Il est clair que le public ne valorise pas l'authenticité de la meme façon que les archéologues. Nous suggérons que certains aspects du passé ont toujours été des ressources potentiellement renouvelables. Il semble aujourd'hui qu'une définition plus large de ce qu'est l'authenticite est acceptable et a déjà adopteé par le public en tant que consommateur du passé.

Zusammenfassung

Zusammenfassung

Authentizität wird in der Archäologie oft als besonders wichtig angesehen. In diesem Beitrag untersuchen wir die Natur von Authentizität und stellen implizit in Frage, ob Altersbestimmungen und Echtheitsbeweisen wirklich so viel Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt werden sollte. Wir zeigen daß eine Anzahl authentisierter Objekte potentielle Fälschungen sind. Es wird heute akzeptiert, daß viele archäologische Stätten und Rekonstruktionen nicht wirklich alt sind, obwohl der Grad der Akzeptanz davon abhängt, wie flexibel man hinsichtlich des Konzeptes der Authentizität ist. Es ist klar, daß die Öffentlichkeit Echtheit nicht unbedingt den gleichen Wert zumißt wie es Archäolog(inn)en tun. Wir meinen, daß die Vergangenheit, oder jedenfalls bestimmte Aspekte der Vergangenheit, schon immer eine potentiell erneuerbare Ressource gewesen ist. Wir behaupten, daß heute eine unverkrampftere Einstellung gegenüber Echtheit und Authentizität akzeptabel ist, und daß sie von der Öffentlichkeit – den Konsumenten der Vergangenheit – bereits akzeptiert ist.

Keywords

authenticitycultural heritagepublic archaeologyreproduction
Type
Articles
Information
European Journal of Archaeology , Volume 2 , Issue 2 , 1999 , pp. 229 - 247
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 Sage Publications 

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