Today's #Archaeology31 is about #Communication. I want to take us back to #Sudan, specifically this photograph (via @ExploreWellcome b/c photos communicate a lot.

#Kitchener was finally brought to visit #JebelMoya. Wellcome longed for recognition, and fostering high level relations. The photograph you see is carefully constructed. First, let's talk about the added pigments on the jalabiyas - many of the photos were touched up...

An early form of photo editing that took a long time. But before all that, the picture is carefully posed. The workmen are huddled around a trench, removing material. The black man standing to the side is the son of the Kalifa, a high status position.

The gaggle of white men includes Kitchener, Wellcome and other assorted dignitaries. While the son of the Kalifa is an important man, he is placed apart. The workmen look like they are kneeling in front of the white men. This is not an accident of composition.

Wellcome was all about a carefully crafted image. I've explored some of this here (open access) https://bit.ly/3pMVncV  and the next step is to work on the photos. This is emerging research so pls bear with me. I figure #Archaeology31 is a good place to talk about ideas:)

I look at this photo and the #communication I see is the image of imperial power & submission. The men are not local to Jebel Moya, in fact the inhabitants never got to excavate their own heritage. They were subject to a very restrictive indenture (not contract)

And the camp was run along military lines. A photograph is never just an image, it tells us so much more. So I hope to slowly disentangle my way through the exceptional photographic archive @ExploreWellcome

Today's #Archaeology31 theme of #communication really made me rethink my approach, so I'm grateful to @kimbiddulph for doing this and for all the fascinating threads :-)