Manicure attack ahead, because I had a case of archaeological fever while browsing a great University handbook (Archaeology: Theories, Methods, and Practice, College Edition![]()
by C.Renfrew and P.Bahn) resulting in “archaeo nails”, a nail art with exceptional protagonists: archaeologists with moustaches.
by C.Renfrew and P.Bahn) resulting in “archaeo nails”, a nail art with exceptional protagonists: archaeologists with moustaches.Why an archaeological manicure? As a cultural worker, I think there’s not better way to learn than by playing and having fun.
With this nail art, I wanted to introduce you to some real archaeologists who did the history of this amazing discipline. Forget Indie, please!
With this nail art, I wanted to introduce you to some real archaeologists who did the history of this amazing discipline. Forget Indie, please!
Each nail features a face, or better, moustaches and glasses if worn.
Everything has been painted by hand with regular nail polishes, nail polish remover to thin down some colours, and a double ended nail art tool (half dotting tool, half small detail brush).
Everything has been painted by hand with regular nail polishes, nail polish remover to thin down some colours, and a double ended nail art tool (half dotting tool, half small detail brush).
Here what I used in order:
Base: Avon Nail Experts Pearl Shine (1 coat)Coloured base: Pupa Lasting Color Glossy Nail Color 223 (1 coat)Details: Meauey Shake Me-Pump & Use nail art pen #2 black (via Born Pretty Store with V10K31 for a 10% off) + Yamamay beauty #24 black for moustaches, small details and glasses
Pupa Lasting Color Glossy Nail Color 916 (a grey for moustaches), Debby Colorplay Magnetic 10 Mars (metallic red for Binsford’s tortoiseshell glasses on the middle finger), Avon Nail Experts French Manicure Tip, Prestige Cosmetics NL17 Mocha and Avon Color Trend fashion nail enamel in Rare (teddy bear), Avon double ended nail art tool
Top coat: essence the gel nail polish in 01 absolute pure (1 coat)
Archaeology students are familiar with these names and relative faces, why are they and their studies so important? Starting from my index finger, we get to know...
Evans (1851-1941) was an English archaeologist interested in Aegean civilisations. He’s renowned for his excavation in Crete and his studies concerning Cretan identity.
His field works started on 1900 and led him to unearth the Knossos palace and its clay tablet deposits. He's important because he properly outlined Minoans as a civilisation and analysed the three written systems used in the isle: an ancient "hieroglyphic" system, the so-called Linear A (an official writing scheme used in administration and religious contexts, partially ideographic and syllabic that hasn’t been decrypted yet) and the later Linear B (used by Mycenean, derived from the Linear A and consisting of syllabic and phonetic signs. It has been decoded by Ventris and Chadwick in the ‘50s, so that we know it’s an archaic Greek language written form).
Binford: (1931-2011) an American archaeologist and anthropologist who has shaken and revolutionised archaeology with his article “Archaeology as anthropology” (1962) and later with the essay “New Perspectives in Archaeology” (1968). His “school” is called “New Archaeology” and it’s a totally different approach to the discipline: instead of basing a theory upon scholars’ authority, he and his colleagues tried to explain the past by analysing cultures rather than by simply describing them.
Childe (1892-1957) was an archaeologist born in Australia and academically active in the United Kingdom. His study sector was the Prehistory of Europe and his most important research work was conducted in the Orkeney Islands, at Skara Brae.
He’s considered the father of palethnology and gave prehistory an importance, as a subject, never seen before. Childe’s approach is based on “cultures” and material cultures, “organisms” able to adapt and transforms themselves.
His theory was deeply influenced by Marxism, indeed he introduced the key concept of revolution in early human societies: the “Neolithic revolution” and the “Urban revolution”.
Wheeler: (1890-1976) a British archaeologist who served as an official in the British Army during both World War I and Work War II. His name is linked to a great step forward in methodology known as the “Wheeler method”. He introduced military precision by using a square grid excavation technique and a more detailed and scientific context recording.
He operated in the UK, at the famous Iron age hillfort of Maiden Castle, and in several Indian sites.
I loved, in particular, this picture above with Childe, his beloved pipe, and a teddy bear.. It looked to be a gift made by students from the Brno University.
Valentina Chirico aka Valens
