Treasures from the ancient Japanese mounded tombs: current research on the Gowland Collection

A half-day symposium where Japanese and British specialists will present the findings of their major research project into the Gowland Collection of Kofun period materials (3rd-7th centuries AD) held at the British Museum. These artefacts and archive, acquired by William Gowland during his long sojourn in Japan in the later 19th century, comprise a unique collection outside Japan, illuminating both the history of Japanese archaeology and the origins of the state in Japan, when rulers were buried in some of the largest burial monuments of the ancient world.

*Most of the talks will be in Japanese with English summaries available.

Speakers:
Tomiyama Naoto (Kobe Chuo Municipal Library)
Progression of the William Gowland research project

Nishimura Hideko (Otemae University)
Method and progress towards the Gowland materials database

Hishida Tetsuo (Kyoto Prefectural University)
The site survey and ceramic research of William Gowland

Maeda Toshio (Archaeological Institute of Kashihara)
Research of stoneware ceramics in the Gowland collection

Isahaya Naoto (Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties)
Survey of horse ornaments and harnesses in the Gowland collection

Luke Edgington-Brown (University of East Anglia and the British Museum)
William Gowland in the context of Japanese and British archaeology

Admission is free but pre-registration is advised as seats are limited.
Please contact Akiko Yano ayano@britishmuseum.org to make a reservation