New Handbook Provides Guidelines to Research the Provenance of Mediterranean Antiquities

Over a century and a half ago, long, thin linen strips inscribed with ritual spells from the Egyptian Book of the Dead were removed from the mummified remains of three individuals whose subsequent fate is unknown.

The wrappings were divided up, transported out of Egypt, and entered into a variety of European collections over the course of the 19th century. One group of 12, dating to the third to first centuries BCE and mistakenly thought to come from a single mummified individual, was donated to the J. Paul Getty Museum in 1983. The research process for studying the provenance—the ownership history—of these Ptolemaic wrappings may appear straightforward: distinguishing between what is known, what remains unknown, and what is still to be confirmed. But how to embark upon this work? What are the most effective ways to track down fragments that have been scattered around the world, or conveyed along branches of a family tree with scarcely a mention? What are the challenges and opportunities particular to working with Mediterranean antiquities?

"Provenance Research for Mediterranean Antiquities: Methods and Resources" (J. Paul Getty Museum, FREE) seeks to address these questions. The first of its kind, this book is an accessible, comprehensive primer of methods and resources for researching the provenance of Mediterranean (Greek, Roman, and Etruscan) antiquities. In addition to outlining effective strategies for documentation and investigation, the volume features an annotated guide to key archives, databases, and 20th-century dealers to facilitate a broad spectrum of research endeavors. Building upon a decade-long review of the Getty Museum’s antiquities collection, it draws together instructive case studies, legal perspectives, and practical experience to provide an efficient reference for museum professionals, scholars, collectors, and students.

The free online edition of this open-access publication, which includes zoomable illustrations, is also available with free PDF and EPUB downloads of the book.