Conclusion

In conclusion, we can all agree, I think, that objects testify to the exciting possibilities inherent in the study of material culture. Increasingly, scholars are becoming more aware and attuned to the significance of things, whether human-made or natural, and their ability to ‘speak’ to us and address audiences. In addition to possessing life cycles and telling stories, objects speak to us a great deal about the people who make, use, own and display them.

We would like you to think about material objects as a new and exciting way of accessing knowledge about both the past and the present, and within a variety of academic disciplines.