AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award - 'Exploring economy, society and culture through glass bangles: origins, circulation
Fee waiver at the Home/EU rate, plus a maintenance stipend of £15,009 per year (2019/20 rate)
The School of European Culture and Languages is delighted to announce the availability of a fully funded AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership PhD studentship between the University of Kent and the British Museum, entitled 'Exploring economy, society and culture through glass bangles: origins, circulation and cultural impact in the Western Indian Ocean'.
This project aims to understand the spread of glass bangle production and circulation in the late and post medieval periods (c.1200-1700) for instance by mapping production areas and distribution, and investigate the cultural value and meanings of glass bangles, through a combination of archaeological science and investigation of size, colour and decoration (including a formal typology). The project will support the British Museum’s research on trade and connections around the Indian Ocean, and provide the opportunity to develop the career of a future Museum Curator, Archaeological Scientist or Material Culture specialist. This is a collaborative studentship, meaning that is will be jointly supervised by Ellen Swift at the University of Kent and Andrew Meek from the British Museum.
Glass bangles are a diagnostic element of personal adornment from India, the Indian Ocean, Middle East and northern Black Sea from the thirteenth century onwards and are common at almost all archaeological sites, yet have attracted surprisingly little serious study. The number of glass bangles in the archaeological record in the Western Indian Ocean increase massively in number and diversity in the late and post-medieval periods of the thirteenth century onwards when the focus of production widens and extends to Aden, India and southeast Asia. During this period, glass bangles become ubiquitous at sites around the western Indian Ocean.
The key research question is: Is it possible to see patterns in the typology, chronology and distribution of bangles in the archaeological record, and what can these patterns tell us about their wearers’ lives and trade and exchange networks in operation in the Western Indian Ocean? There is scope to develop the project according to the student’s particular interests for instance by focusing on particular methodological approaches or categories of material.
The student will be part of post of the postgraduate community at the University of Kent and the British Museum’s own collaborative doctoral students programme. The student will also benefit from the training and cohort development opportunities offered to all Collaborative Doctoral Partnership students from the more than 20 museums and other cultural organisations who support these students.
During studentship period the student will have the opportunity to undertake a placement at The British Museum. The student will be able to choose between a placement in the Department of the Middle East or Department of Scientific Research. During this time they will be able to gain hands-on experience in relevant work-based skills for a career in the field of cultural heritage. There will also be an opportunity to undertake training courses in techniques of scientific analysis. The student will also participate in the planning for an upcoming exhibition during the course of the PhD.
Details of award
This studentship is funded by the Collaborative Doctoral Partnership scheme, and is one of seven studentships the British Museum is supporting this year to supports its work.
The studentship can be studied either full or part time.
The award pays fees up to the value of the full time home/EU rate for PhD degrees as well as full maintenance (UK citizens and residents only). The value of the stipend for 2019/20 is £15,009 plus an additional £550 stipend payment for Collaborative Doctoral Students.
The student is eligible to receive up to £4000 for additional travel and related expenses during the course of the project (£1000 per year) from the British Museum. Full maintenance will also be paid during the placement.
For more information click "LINK TO ORIGINAL" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
https://www.kent.ac.uk/scholarships/search/FN04AHRCCD02