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The Rochdale barrel shows how the historical significance and value of an artefact may be enhanced by the addition of writing or inscriptions. When the writing is added at a later date, it may create a new significance for the object within the more recent context, as is the case with the Rosetta Stone. Here are some examples.

A British penny

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One side of this penny has been defaced as an act of defiance and propaganda. For a fuller explanation, the webpage includes a link to the BBC History of the World radio programme and transcript.

See more See more: https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/asset/suffragette-defaced-penny/fQHNhgeqhbsjPQ

A drum

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A large Sudanese slit-drum whose body has been engraved in different ways at different times as it changed hands. For close-up views and a fuller explanation, the webpage includes a link to the BBC History of the World radio programme and transcript.

See more See more: https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/asset/sudanese-slit-drum/CAEs87PKbeyd6g

A Maōri club

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Made from whalebone and with its own meaning in Maōri culture, this club gains new significance for Europeans from the fact that it once belonged to Captain James Cook. For a fuller explanation, see Object file: Two Maōri clubs.

See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?searchText=slit%20drum&images=true&ILINK%7C34484,%7CassetId=269755&objectId=512653&partId=1

The Rosetta Stone

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As well as its three ancient inscriptions which allowed Egyptian hieroglyphs to be deciphered, the Rosetta Stone bears a fourth inscription indicating that it was captured from the French in 1801 following Nelson’s victory at the Battle of the Nile in 1798. For a fuller explanation, the webpage includes a link to the BBC History of the World radio programme and transcript.

See more See more: https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/asset/the-rosetta-stone/DgH6pMM1guUUPA

Annotations by Henry VIII

A variety of documents with annotations by Henry VIII revealing his thoughts on some of the great issues of his reign.

See more See more: http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/henryviii/interactive/
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