Abstract
Cultural artifacts in museums often lose their complex histories, reduced to isolated objects focused primarily on symbolic meanings. Actor-Network Theory (ANT) offers a framework to address this issue by highlighting the network of human and non-human actors that shape artifacts and their interpretation. This proposal critically analyzes the representations of the Seated Woman Figurine of Çatalhöyük, a Neolithic artifact discovered in Turkey, across various exhibitions. The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, where the figurine has been housed since 1962, labels it the “Goddess Figurine” and emphasizes its symbolic connection to fertility and agriculture, isolating it on the museum floor from other figurines excavated at the same site. Similarly, at the 2010 World Expo in China, Turkey presented a large-scale replica of the figurine as an idol representing the nation’s ancient history and its identity as the cradle of civilization, further simplifying its archaeological context. In contrast, Ian Hodder’s interpretive archaeology and exhibitions like From Earth to Eternity aim to demystify such narratives by situating artifacts within their material and social contexts. The New Visitor Center at Çatalhöyük builds on this approach, utilizing digital tools to highlight excavation methods, daily life, and environmental conditions, reframing the figurine as a representation of community respect for elders in an egalitarian society. This research underscores the importance of contextualizing artifacts in museum design, analyzing these exhibitions to demonstrate how incorporating thoughtful exhibition design, scientific data, and diverse perspectives can lead to more accurate, trustworthy, and technologically informed displays.
Presenters
Pelin AlkanLecturer, Architecture, University of North Carolina Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
HERITAGE, REPRESENTATION, EXHIBITION DESIGN, CONTEXT, TECHNOLOGY, MUSEUMS, ACTOR NETWORK THEORY
