This volume addresses and problematizes the formation and transformation of the ancient Near Eastern art historical and archaeological canon. The “canon” is defined as an established list of objects, monuments, buildings, and sites that are considered to be most representative of the ancient Near East. In “testing” this canon, this project takes stock of the current canon, its origins, endurance, and prospects. Boundaries and typologies are examined, technologies of canon production are investigated, and heritage perspectives on contemporary culture offer a key to the future. Ultimately, this enterprise seeks to provide a framework for a re-conceptualization of ancient Near Eastern history and culture that is meaningful to a broad audience today. This book offers a vital benchmark and a collective path forward for the study and appreciation of Near Eastern cultural heritage, and it aims to provide a model for similar inquiries across art historical and archaeological fields.
Featured Artwork: Farhad Ahrarnia, from The Dig (2011), Hand-embossed silver plated copper. 42 x 27 x 3 cm. Courtesy of the artist. (Page 290, The Ancient Near Eastern Canon in the Classroom by Ann Shafer, in Testing the Canon of Ancient Near Eastern Art and Archaeology)
