Britt Claes
Royal Museums of Arts and History, Brussels, National Archaeology, Department Member
The National Archaeology Collections Inventory Project (NACIP), launched in 2012 and financially supported by the Belgian Science Policy Office, was motivated by the deteriorated condition of the depots housing the National Archaeology... more
The National Archaeology Collections Inventory Project (NACIP), launched in 2012 and financially supported by the Belgian Science Policy Office, was motivated by the deteriorated condition of the depots housing the National Archaeology Collection at the Art & History Museum in Brussels. The lack of a comprehensive and standardized inventory had been a significant impediment to efficient collection management. With the assistance of five additional employees, over 135,000 items have been identified and removed from their previous storage facilities. Following the renovation of the depots, these items were carefully placed into more than 1,900 new and entirely suitable containers. Today, the collection is easily accessible through a digitized inventory, encompassing approximately 30,000 records. Museum staff and researchers now enjoy online access to this inventory, facilitating both efficient collection ma nagement and fostering new scientific research.
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In what follows, we will outline a portrait of a man who, in the known socio-economic context of the nineteenth century, strived to work his way up from bourgeois collector to noble collector. As a result, he finds himself somewhat on the... more
In what follows, we will outline a portrait of a man who, in the known socio-economic context of the nineteenth century, strived to work his way up from bourgeois collector to noble collector. As a result, he finds himself somewhat on the fringes of this special issue that focusses on aristocratic collecting practices. The ‘case Cavens’, nevertheless, merits a separate chapter. Through a short overview of his donations
and collectors’ practices, it will be made clear that Cavens, a self-proclaimed nobleman, wanted to measure up to the nobility and adopts its customs, cultural practices and lifestyle in every action he undertook. The scrutinized documents will allow us to better understand his multifaceted personality that, on the one hand, strongly relates to his desire to acquire the noble title and, on the other hand, to his nationalist ideals. The latter will also reflect in the choice of the artefacts he was to collect.
and collectors’ practices, it will be made clear that Cavens, a self-proclaimed nobleman, wanted to measure up to the nobility and adopts its customs, cultural practices and lifestyle in every action he undertook. The scrutinized documents will allow us to better understand his multifaceted personality that, on the one hand, strongly relates to his desire to acquire the noble title and, on the other hand, to his nationalist ideals. The latter will also reflect in the choice of the artefacts he was to collect.
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In the course of the National Archaeology Collections Inventory Project (NACIP), the RMAH's artefacts collected from the Neolithic flint mining complex at Spiennes (Mons, Belgium) have been thoroughly re-identified and classified... more
In the course of the National Archaeology Collections Inventory Project (NACIP), the RMAH's artefacts collected from the Neolithic flint mining complex at Spiennes (Mons, Belgium) have been thoroughly re-identified and classified according to their original contexts (if possible). An exhaustive inventory and the retrieval of all scientific documentation concerning the collection have made a detailed overview of the most important arrivals of this collection at the museum. The electronic accessibility of the collection has furthermore facilitated its management that will, in turn, promote renewed scientific research. Keywords: Spiennes, Neolithic, prehistoric flint mining, Royal Museums of Art and History, history of museum collections. Résumé Au cours du projet NACIP (National Archaeology Collections Inventory Project), le matériel des Musées royaux d'Art et d'Histoire (MRAH, Bruxelles) provenant du complexe minier néolithique de Spiennes (Mons, Belgique) a fait l'objet d'une ré-identification et d'un reclassement des objets selon leur contexte d'origine (quand cela s'est avéré possible). Un inventaire exhaustif ainsi que la compilation de la documentation scientifique liée à la collection a permis d'obtenir une vue complète de l'arrivée des ensembles les plus importants aux Musées. La numérisation de l'inventaire de la collection simplifie sa gestion ce qui, à son tour, facilite la recherche scientifique. Mots-clés : Spiennes, Néolithique, exploitation minière préhistorique, Musées royaux d'Art et d'Histoire, histoire des collections.
The Wine of Saint-Martin’s Day, one of Pieter Bruegel’s master pieces currently exhibited in the Prado Museum in Madrid, has yet to reveal its latest secrets. In this regard, the team comprising an archaeologist of the Royal Museums of... more
The Wine of Saint-Martin’s Day, one of Pieter Bruegel’s master pieces currently exhibited in the Prado Museum in Madrid, has yet to reveal its latest secrets. In this regard, the team comprising an archaeologist of the Royal Museums of Art and History (Belgium) and a historian of the Brussels' Archaeology Department, recently analysed the painting and came up with some new and surprising insights. The analysis is composed of a critical study of the architectural elements depicted by Bruegel such as a fragment of the Brussels city wall with one of its gates and two sanctuaries, a chapel and a church at either end of the composition. These elements, combined with the theme of the painting as ‘wine feast’ has led to insightful conclusions relating to the painter’s visual inspiration in depicting this scene. What follows is an investigation of architectural and topographical viewpoints used by Bruegel in his work and a reflection on Bruegel living in Brussels in the mid-16th century, during his most productive period. In the painting he displays his many talents, most expressly his resourcefulness, his sense of humour, and a command of colour and composition, bearing in mind the rate of consumption and use of wine as a contemporary commodity.
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On 28 March 1917, an ensemble of archaeological artefacts from the “Belgo-Roman period” was recorded in the inventory of the Royal Museums of Art and History, following a donation by A. Lemonnier. The batch consisted of about thirty... more
On 28 March 1917, an ensemble of archaeological artefacts from the “Belgo-Roman period” was recorded in the inventory of the Royal Museums of Art and History, following a donation by A. Lemonnier. The batch consisted of about thirty items, including some rather unusual ceramic objects, such as a triple vase and two zoomorphic ones. In this article, the authors attempt to trace the history of this collection by closely studying the archives and the archaeological documentation. They also make a morphological and typological analysis of the objects and compare the results with discoveries made in Ciply and its surrounding areas. A re-reading of this old material has made it possible to determine that the triple vase and the zoomorphic vases come from a Gallo-Roman cemetery, located somewhere on the territory of the former municipality of Ciply, and that they were part of a coherent ensemble, characterized by a large number of 1st century Belgian ware.
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The early Iron Age necropolis of Saint-Vincent "Grand-Bois" (Prov. of Luxembourg) is excavated during the first quarter of the 20th century by the former Belgian State Service for Excavations, then based at the Royal Museums of Art and... more
The early Iron Age necropolis of Saint-Vincent "Grand-Bois" (Prov. of Luxembourg) is excavated during the first quarter of the 20th century by the former Belgian State Service for Excavations, then based at the Royal Museums of Art and History. The excavation yielded a very rich archaeological ensemble, afterwards accommodated in our Museums, where it is still kept and exhibited today. In the framework of the inventory of the National Archaeology collection, the artefacts from Saint-Vincent have been reconditioned and linked to the research’s original archaeological documentation. Archives and objects have thus been confronted in order to reconstruct the original collection from Saint-Vincent and to publish the objects via the Museums’ online catalogue. Throughout their research, the authors have got acquainted with the archaeological practices of the State Service for Excavations, forerunners of our current preventive archaeology.
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The present article discusses the integration of urban geoarchaeological and archaeobotanical data of a series of Dark Earth deposits situated in the alluvial valley of the Senne River in Brussels, Belgium. Due to their homogeneous... more
The present article discusses the integration of urban geoarchaeological and archaeobotanical data of a series of Dark Earth deposits situated in the alluvial valley of the Senne River in Brussels, Belgium. Due to their homogeneous character, their interpretation is a huge challenge for archaeologists. Through a case-by-case approach, a detailed picture of the sequence of different activities and (semi-) natural events, leading to the build up of Dark Earth at each individual site has been obtained. Among the activities, agricultural practices and waste management, which are rarely archaeologically recorded in urban contexts, have been identified. Despite being situated in a valley context, none of the sites presented an excellent preservation of the organic plant remains. However, through the integration of geo-archaeological and botanical data, the taphonomical history of the botanical remains could better be understood, allowing us to document the evolution of the environment surrounding the sites. Additionally , it has been demonstrated that the botanical study of Dark Earth units can also provide valuable information on vegetal consumption, in particular fruits. On a broader scale, this integrated geo-archaeologial and archaeobotanical study sheds some light on the process of urbanisation of the Senne alluvial valley between the 11the12th and the 16th century AD.
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The present article discusses the integration of urban geoarchaeological and archaeobotanical data of a series of Dark Earth deposits situated in the alluvial valley of the Senne River in Brussels, Belgium. Due to their homogeneous... more
The present article discusses the integration of urban geoarchaeological and archaeobotanical data of a series of Dark Earth deposits situated in the alluvial valley of the Senne River in Brussels, Belgium. Due to their homogeneous character, their interpretation is a huge challenge for archaeologists. Through a case-by-case approach, a detailed picture of the sequence of different activities and (semi-) natural events, leading to the build up of Dark Earth at each individual site has been obtained. Among the activities, agricultural practices and waste management, which are rarely archaeologically recorded in urban contexts, have been identified. Despite being situated in a valley context, none of the sites presented an excellent preservation of the organic plant remains. However, through the integration of geo-archaeological and botanical data, the taphonomical history of the botanical remains could better be understood, allowing us to document the evolution of the environment surrounding the sites. Additionally , it has been demonstrated that the botanical study of Dark Earth units can also provide valuable information on vegetal consumption, in particular fruits. On a broader scale, this integrated geo-archaeologial and archaeobotanical study sheds some light on the process of urbanisation of the Senne alluvial valley between the 11the12th and the 16th century AD.
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De provinciale infodag 2006 van de provincie Vlaams-Brabant stond in het teken van castrale mottes in de regio rond Merchtem. Onderstaand artikel diende ter illustratie van de namiddagexcursie en behandelt de mottes die op deze dag... more
De provinciale infodag 2006 van de provincie Vlaams-Brabant stond in het teken van castrale mottes in de regio rond Merchtem. Onderstaand artikel diende ter illustratie van de namiddagexcursie en behandelt de mottes die op deze dag bezocht werden. De korte omschrijvingen zijn grotendeels gebaseerd op de licentiaatsverhandeling van Britt Claes uit 2002.
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Poster presented about the necropolis of Harmignies (Hainaut, Belgium) at the 43e Journées internationales de l'Association française d’archéologie mérovingienne (Afam)
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The site of Petite Rue des Bouchers is situated in the Senne valley. During the excavations the archaeologists discovered a structure composed by an alternating sequence of thin organic layers. In order to understand its formation history... more
The site of Petite Rue des Bouchers is situated in the Senne valley. During the excavations the archaeologists discovered a structure composed by an alternating sequence of thin organic layers. In order to understand its formation history and to determine its function an interdisciplinary study, including soil micromorphology and archaeobotany (macrobotanical remains, pollen, fungi and phytoliths), was performed. The integrated study demonstrated that the structure was composed of trampled excrements (mostly of herbivores, but also of carnivore-omnivores), compressed plant remains (leaves, chaff, stalk fragments), twigs, small fragments of daub and more mineral layers. These evidence in connection with the archaeological data suggest that the structure was part of a stable, possibly even a ‘potstal’, i.e. a deep litter housing system, based on the repeated addition of straw and/or soil sods.
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En 2010 (février-mars et octobre-décembre), les Musées royaux d’Art et d’Histoire ont effectué une évaluation archéologique de trois maisons de la Petite rue des Bouchers no 29 et de l’impasse Schuddeveld no 2. Ces recherches ont été... more
En 2010 (février-mars et octobre-décembre), les Musées royaux d’Art et d’Histoire ont effectué une évaluation archéologique de trois maisons de la Petite rue des Bouchers no 29 et de l’impasse Schuddeveld no 2. Ces recherches ont été confiées en sous-traitance par la Direction des Monuments et Sites de la Région Bruxelles-Capitale comme étude préalable à la restauration de ces maisons situées dans la zone UNESCO. L’équipe a réalisé une étude archéologique du bâti des trois bâtiments encore en élévation, de même que cinq tranchées dispersées sur les parcelles. Les résultats doivent être mis en rapport avec les fouilles effectuées dans le même îlot par les MRAH dans les années 1990, sur une parcelle en friche à l’arrière des maisons de la rue d’Une Personne. Outre la parfaite conservation des restes organiques, la fouille indique que le site fut habité sans interruption depuis le XIIIe siècle et que des activités artisanales y furent exercées depuis la deuxième moitié du XIIIe siècle.
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This summary intends to gives a synthetic view of the results of the project. This document should be communicated to the programme manager by the coordinator of the project. This document needs to be handed out in FR/NL/EN. 1 See art.... more
This summary intends to gives a synthetic view of the results of the project. This document should be communicated to the programme manager by the coordinator of the project. This document needs to be handed out in FR/NL/EN. 1 See art. 5.5.2 of the research contract.
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Archéologie du Moyen Âge et des Temps Modernes dans les trois régions belges et les pays limitrophes Archeologie van de Middeleeuwen en de Moderne Tijden in de drie Belgische gewesten en aangrenzende gebieden. Mittelalterliche und... more
Archéologie du Moyen Âge et des Temps Modernes dans les trois régions belges et les pays limitrophes
Archeologie van de Middeleeuwen en de Moderne Tijden in de drie Belgische gewesten en aangrenzende gebieden.
Mittelalterliche und Neuzeitliche Ärchäologie in den drei Belgischen Regionen
Archeologie van de Middeleeuwen en de Moderne Tijden in de drie Belgische gewesten en aangrenzende gebieden.
Mittelalterliche und Neuzeitliche Ärchäologie in den drei Belgischen Regionen
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Archéologie du Moyen Âge et des Temps Modernes dans les trois régions belges et les pays limitrophes Archeologie van de Middeleeuwen en de Moderne Tijden in de drie Belgische gewesten en aangrenzende gebieden Mittelalterliche und... more
Archéologie du Moyen Âge et des Temps Modernes dans les trois régions belges et les pays limitrophes
Archeologie van de Middeleeuwen en de Moderne Tijden in de drie Belgische gewesten en aangrenzende gebieden
Mittelalterliche und Neuzeitliche Ärchäologie in den drei belgischen Regionen
Archeologie van de Middeleeuwen en de Moderne Tijden in de drie Belgische gewesten en aangrenzende gebieden
Mittelalterliche und Neuzeitliche Ärchäologie in den drei belgischen Regionen
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Archéologie du Moyen Âge et des Temps Modernes dans les trois régions belges et les pays limitrophes Archeologie van de Middeleeuwen en de Moderne Tijden in de drie Belgische gewesten en aangrenzende gebieden. Mittelalterliche und... more
Archéologie du Moyen Âge et des Temps Modernes dans les trois régions belges et les pays limitrophes
Archeologie van de Middeleeuwen en de Moderne Tijden in de drie Belgische gewesten en aangrenzende gebieden.
Mittelalterliche und Neuzeitliche Ärchäologie in den drei Belgischen Regionen
Archeologie van de Middeleeuwen en de Moderne Tijden in de drie Belgische gewesten en aangrenzende gebieden.
Mittelalterliche und Neuzeitliche Ärchäologie in den drei Belgischen Regionen
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Archéologie du Moyen Âge et des Temps Modernes dans les trois régions belges et les pays limitrophes Archeologie van de Middeleeuwen en de Moderne Tijden in de drie Belgische gewesten en aangrenzende gebieden. Mittelalterliche und... more
Archéologie du Moyen Âge et des Temps Modernes dans les trois régions belges et les pays limitrophes
Archeologie van de Middeleeuwen en de Moderne Tijden in de drie Belgische gewesten en aangrenzende gebieden.
Mittelalterliche und Neuzeitliche Ärchäologie in den drei Belgischen Regionen
Archeologie van de Middeleeuwen en de Moderne Tijden in de drie Belgische gewesten en aangrenzende gebieden.
Mittelalterliche und Neuzeitliche Ärchäologie in den drei Belgischen Regionen
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Archeologie van de Middeleeuwen en de Moderne Tijden in de drie Belgische gewesten en aangrenzende gebieden / Archéologie du Moyen Âge et de Temps Modernes dans les trois régions belges et les pays limitrophes / Mittelalterliche und... more
Archeologie van de Middeleeuwen en de Moderne Tijden in de drie Belgische gewesten en aangrenzende gebieden / Archéologie du Moyen Âge et de Temps Modernes dans les trois régions belges et les pays limitrophes / Mittelalterliche und Neuzeitliche Archäologie in den drei Belgische Regionen und Nachbargebieten
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Dear visitor, People migrating over long distances, new political structures, climate changes, religious conflicts, shifting markets, ... The turbulent times of Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages (c. 300-1000) show more similarities... more
Dear visitor,
People migrating over long distances, new political structures, climate
changes, religious conflicts, shifting markets, ... The turbulent times
of Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages (c. 300-1000) show more
similarities with our modern world than we might think. In Western
Europe, this period is often referred to as the ‘Dark Ages’. However,
numerous historical sources and artefacts prove that there were many
exchanges and contacts during this period through travel, trade,
diplomacy and armed conflict. Not only objects were passed on, but
also technical know-how, ideas, customs, and religious ideas. All of them
reflect an astonishing diversity during this unique period in motion.
We wish you a pleasant journey through the Middle Ages!
People migrating over long distances, new political structures, climate
changes, religious conflicts, shifting markets, ... The turbulent times
of Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages (c. 300-1000) show more
similarities with our modern world than we might think. In Western
Europe, this period is often referred to as the ‘Dark Ages’. However,
numerous historical sources and artefacts prove that there were many
exchanges and contacts during this period through travel, trade,
diplomacy and armed conflict. Not only objects were passed on, but
also technical know-how, ideas, customs, and religious ideas. All of them
reflect an astonishing diversity during this unique period in motion.
We wish you a pleasant journey through the Middle Ages!
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Beste bezoeker, Volksverhuizingen over lange afstanden, nieuwe politieke structuren, klimaatveranderingen, religieuze conflicten, verschuivende markten, … De bewogen tijden van de late oudheid en de vroege middeleeuwen (ca. 300-1000)... more
Beste bezoeker,
Volksverhuizingen over lange afstanden, nieuwe politieke structuren,
klimaatveranderingen, religieuze conflicten, verschuivende markten, …
De bewogen tijden van de late oudheid en de vroege middeleeuwen
(ca. 300-1000) vertonen meer overeenkomsten met onze moderne wereld
dan we zouden vermoeden. In West-Europa wordt deze periode vaak
aangeduid als de ‘donkere eeuwen’. Ten onrechte: tal van historische
bronnen en artefacten bewijzen dat er in dit tijdvak veel uitwisselingen
en contacten waren: reizen, handel, diplomatie en gewapende conflicten.
Niet alleen voorwerpen werden doorgegeven, maar ook technische
know-how, denkbeelden, gewoonten en religieuze ideeën. Alle getuigen
ze van een verrassende diversiteit van deze unieke periode in beweging.
We wensen jullie een aangename reis door de middeleeuwen!
Volksverhuizingen over lange afstanden, nieuwe politieke structuren,
klimaatveranderingen, religieuze conflicten, verschuivende markten, …
De bewogen tijden van de late oudheid en de vroege middeleeuwen
(ca. 300-1000) vertonen meer overeenkomsten met onze moderne wereld
dan we zouden vermoeden. In West-Europa wordt deze periode vaak
aangeduid als de ‘donkere eeuwen’. Ten onrechte: tal van historische
bronnen en artefacten bewijzen dat er in dit tijdvak veel uitwisselingen
en contacten waren: reizen, handel, diplomatie en gewapende conflicten.
Niet alleen voorwerpen werden doorgegeven, maar ook technische
know-how, denkbeelden, gewoonten en religieuze ideeën. Alle getuigen
ze van een verrassende diversiteit van deze unieke periode in beweging.
We wensen jullie een aangename reis door de middeleeuwen!
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Cher visiteur, Migrations de populations, nouvelles structures politiques, changements climatiques, conflits religieux, marchés fluctuants, ... La période mouvementée de l’Antiquité tardive et du haut Moyen Âge (vers 300-1000) a plus de... more
Cher visiteur,
Migrations de populations, nouvelles structures politiques, changements
climatiques, conflits religieux, marchés fluctuants, ... La période
mouvementée de l’Antiquité tardive et du haut Moyen Âge (vers 300-1000) a plus de points communs avec notre monde moderne qu’il n’y paraît. En Europe occidentale, on parle souvent d’ « Âge sombre ». À tort : quantité de sources historiques et d’artefacts démontrent combien cette époque fut source d’échanges et de contacts grâce aux voyages, au commerce, à la diplomatie ou aux conflits armés. Les objets circulaient, de même que les savoir-faire, les idées, les coutumes et les conceptions religieuses. Tous témoignent d’une étonnante diversité au cours de cette période unique en mutation.
Nous vous souhaitons un agréable voyage au Moyen Âge !
Migrations de populations, nouvelles structures politiques, changements
climatiques, conflits religieux, marchés fluctuants, ... La période
mouvementée de l’Antiquité tardive et du haut Moyen Âge (vers 300-1000) a plus de points communs avec notre monde moderne qu’il n’y paraît. En Europe occidentale, on parle souvent d’ « Âge sombre ». À tort : quantité de sources historiques et d’artefacts démontrent combien cette époque fut source d’échanges et de contacts grâce aux voyages, au commerce, à la diplomatie ou aux conflits armés. Les objets circulaient, de même que les savoir-faire, les idées, les coutumes et les conceptions religieuses. Tous témoignent d’une étonnante diversité au cours de cette période unique en mutation.
Nous vous souhaitons un agréable voyage au Moyen Âge !