The Sculptures of the Berlin Antiquities Collection

As a part of a cooperation wih the Museums of Berlin / Foundation of Prussian Cultural Heritage, the research archive participates in the new documentation and publication of the Museum Island of Berlin, which was planned and executed by the Antiquities Collection Berlin. Around 4/5 of the holding have not been accessible to science and public since WWII. The holdings are made up of the Collection of the Prussian Kings, of which the pieces that were exhibited in their castles were already recorded in earlier campaigns of the research archive and also published in ARACHNE. Another important focus is on the architectural sculpture and sculpture from Asia Minor.

A general concept that keeps the importance of the pieces in mind, is supposed to be realized in consecutive steps, in which the recording and research take place simutaneously.

The research archive has taken over the monuments in the depots of the Antiquities Collection Berlin and additionally documents, as a part of a photographic campaign of the Mellon-Foundation, parts of the monuments in the exhibition halls. The records of the Mellon campaign as well as those of the research archive are supposed to be brought together and used as one for the scientific processing in a online publication system.

In parts of German Classical Archaeology, topics such a basic reserach or digitalization are considered provocation. Bringing together both elements has led to the denial of funding for these kinds of endeavors although the material has not been accessible since WWII and can be considered a central part of German cultural property. Because of this, the committment and farsightedness of the University of Cologne and private supporters, especially Mr. Dr. Dr. N. Helmke, Mrs. Dr. I. Jucker and Mr. Dr. A. Pestalozzi, that were responsible for the recording and continuation of the works, has to be valued. The cooperation project „Berliner Skulpturennetzwerk“, promoted by the BMBF, could mean a change of tendencies.

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Andreas Scholl, Prof. Dr. Reinhard Förtsch