The Spinning of Ur How Sir Leonard Woolley, James R. Ogden and the British Museum interpreted and represented the past to generate funding for the excavation of Ur in the 1920s and 1930s. A Thesis Submitted to the University of Manchester for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Humanities 2015 Alison J. Millerman School of Arts, Languages and Cultures Contents Contents 2 List of Illustrations 3 List of Tables 3 Abbreviations 4 Abstract 5 Declaration and Copyright Statement 6 Acknowledgements 7 Preface 9 The Spinning of Ur 10 The Characters 11 1. Introduction 13 2. Archaeology in the Near East 32 3. James R. Ogden 54 4. Leonard Woolley 67 5. Funding Archaeology in the Near East 97 6. Financing the Joint Expedition to Ur 114 7. The Spinning of Ur 142 8. The Lectures 182 9. Conclusion 201 Bibliography 221 Appendix 1. Woolley and Ur Reports 233 Appendix 2. Ur Accounts, Supplementary Lists 236 Appendix 3. The Location of the Ogden Archives 237 Word count 83,110 2 List of Illustrations Figures 1 Ogden lecture flyer 2 Map of Fertile Crescent 3 Ogden Appeal leaflet 4 Map of Near Eastern archaeological sites 5 Montage of 1927 newspaper headlines 6 Forestier’s reconstruction of Death Pit 7 Baghdad flooded 1926 8 Ram in the Thicket 9 BM lectures 1930 Tables 1 Near Eastern Excavations in the 1920’s and 1930’s 2 Ogden’s trips to the Near East 3 Woolley biographical highlights 4 Abraham usage references 5 Finances Season one 6 Finances Season two 7 Finances Season three 8 Finances Season four 9 Finances Season five 10 Finances Season six 11 Finances Season seven 12 Finances Season eight 13 Finances Season nine 14 Finances Season ten 15 Finances Season eleven and twelve 16 Ur financial statement 3 Abbreviations BM British Museum BMME British Museum Middle East Dept. (formerly Ancient Near East) BMCA British Museum Central Archives Dept. BMCA SC British Museum Central Archives, Standing Committee Minutes BMRL British Museum Research Laboratory BSAI British School of Archaeology in Iraq BISI British Institute for the Study of Iraq (BSAI before 2008) EA,BM Egyptian Antiquities Dept. BM EAA,BM Egyptian and Assyrian Dept. BM EES Egypt Exploration Society PEF Palestine Exploration Fund PENN University of Pennsylvania, University Museum, Philadelphia ILN Illustrated London News OFA Ogden family archive 4 Abstract This thesis examines the representation in both the public and academic arenas of the archaeological excavation at Ur, southern Iraq, during the 1920’s and 30’s through a study of the main characters involved. Sir Leonard Woolley’s excavation is still fundamental to our knowledge of archaeology in that region. Current thought criticises his approach to and interpretation of his work, as having been “Bible driven” and of little scientific validity, but ignores the value of understanding the relationship between the excavator and the wider community from which his funding derived. Drawing on the Ogden archive, this study is our first opportunity to examine how knowledge about the Ur excavations was disseminated, how the archaeological past has been created and used, and how these interpretations presented entered the zeitgeist and still resonate today. As a result of my initial research findings, I gained access to the family archives of the goldsmith James Ogden, a substantial but previously unresearched body of material that provides an almost complete photographic record of the inter-war archaeology in this region as well as a comprehensive record of press coverage and public reaction. It also contains many unpublished letters between those involved at the time, explaining their methods and motivations. This archive complements substantial quantities of unstudied material in other archives of museums and learned societies. Taken together, the archival material provides a fuller understanding of the motivations behind a highly choreographed publicity campaign that successfully enabled the excavation to continue when threatened by inter-war financial shortages. This research elicits an understanding of the social, cultural and economic factors that shaped archaeology in a society that was uneasily assimilating the impact of the new sciences on a still largely Bible reading public. I analyse all the archives in the wider context of the role played by this campaign in shaping contemporary knowledge of the archaeology of Iraq, as well as reflecting inter- war British and Iraqi society. Archaeological activity was being conducted against the dramatically changing backdrop of the Near East after the First World War, the emergence of the nation states of the area, and a growing aggression and hostility to western occupation. The traditional imperialist view of the right to possession of the excavated antiquities was being challenged as the power structure in the region began to shift and new regional identities were forged. 5 DECLARATION No portion of the work referred to in the thesis has been submitted in support of an application for another degree or qualification of this or any other university or other institute of learning. COPYRIGHT STATEMENT The author of this thesis (including any appendices and/or schedules to this thesis) owns certain copyright or related rights in it (the “Copyright”) and s/he has given The University of Manchester certain rights to use such Copyright, including for administrative purposes. Copies of this thesis, either in full or in extracts and whether in hard or electronic copy, may be made only in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended) and regulations issued under it or, where appropriate, in accordance with licensing agreements which the University has from time to time. This page must form part of any such copies made. The ownership of certain Copyright, patents, designs, trade marks and other intellectual property (the “Intellectual Property”) and any reproductions of copyright works in the thesis, for example graphs and tables (“Reproductions”), which may be described in this thesis, may not be owned by the author and may be owned by third parties. Such Intellectual Property and Reproductions cannot and must not be made available for use without the prior written permission of the owner(s) of the relevant Intellectual Property and/or Reproductions. Further information on the conditions under which disclosure, publication and commercialisation of this thesis, the Copyright and any Intellectual Property and/or Reproductions described in it may take place is available in the University IP Policy (see http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/DocuInfo.aspx?DocID=487), in any relevant Thesis restriction declarations deposited in the University Library, The University Library’s regulations (see http://www.manchester.ac.uk/library/aboutus/regulations) and in The University’s policy on Presentation of Theses. 6 Acknowledgements This research project could not have been achieved without the archive left by James Ogden; my first thanks therefore must go to him. Jack Ogden and Glen Ogden – thanks must particularly go to Ogden’s two great grandsons who represent both sides of Ogden; the scholar and the jeweller. Without their help and support this project would not have left the starting gate. I particularly appreciate their patience in allowing me to be “the mad woman in the attic” while I rummaged through their family history, and for answering endless questions about the enigmatic Mr O. Bob Partridge (Chairman Manchester Ancient Egypt Society) for believing in this when others were convinced that Ogden was no-one of significance. Unfortunately Bob died in July 2011 and did not see the finished project, but without his initial encouragement this journey would not have begun. Ina Berg and Stuart Campbell – my supervisors at Manchester University who kept me focused and dragged this thesis kicking and screaming into the world. The numerous discussions we had about my research have a value beyond measure. Phil Freeman and Chantal Conneller – my examiners for their detailed, helpful comments that greatly improved the narrative. Trustees of the British Museum- ME dept. particularly Sarah Collins, St John Simpson and Henrietta McCall; Central Archives – Gary Thorn; and Research Laboratory Archives – Stephen Gallagher. Harrogate Museum and Arts - Alastair Smith for all the pep talks (and the suggestion that perhaps I should do this as an M.Phil. or PhD!). Leeds University, Brotherton Library, Special Collections – Chris Sheppard. Malcolm Neesam, Harrogate Historian and author, for all the biographical information of Ogden’s early years, and the history of the Ogden business. BISI – for their assistance in giving me a grant to visit the museum at Philadelphia. 7 Yorkshire Archaeological Society. Yorkshire Post (Archive Library). Harrogate Reference Library. TGH James for reading my early notes on Ogden. Also for his help in contacting Lord Carnarvon and Jonathan Carter and in sorting out the murky waters of copyright on private letters. Lord Carnarvon for copyright permission. Jonathan Carter – for his kindness in approving copyright permission for the previously unpublished Howard Carter letters. Griffith Institute – J. Malek and D. Magee. Egyptian Exploration Society – Chris Naunton and P. Spencer. Thanks to Chris for photocopying Ogden’s letters so that I did not have to travel down to London again. Nicholas Reeves for helping me contact Jack Ogden . Richard Zettler for being so enthusiastic about my work at a time when I would have preferred to give it all up. 8 Preface In August 2002, as a lay member of the public, I visited an exhibition at the Harrogate Royal Pump Room Museum called “Land of the Pharaohs”. This exhibition was based on the private collections of two of Harrogate’s former well to do citizens – one of whom was James R. Ogden. The short biography stated that Ogden had a combined passion for jewellery and the history of languages, and that this had brought him to the attention of Howard Carter who had used Ogden’s expert knowledge to assist him with reports on the gold work at the tomb of Tutankhamun.