Urnenveld, opgegraven bij Dömsöd 1928

This is a black and white photograph by Jan Lanting, documenting an urnfield excavated near Dömsöd, Hungary. The image offers a direct view into an archaeological dig, revealing several urns still embedded in the earth. Lanting's work invites reflection on the practice of archaeology itself, and its role in shaping our understanding of the past. In the early to mid-20th century, the era in which this photograph was made, archaeology was often intertwined with nationalistic agendas. Excavations were not merely about uncovering artifacts; they were about constructing narratives of cultural and ethnic origins. Was this excavation an exception to these trends? To fully understand the image, further research would be needed. What were the specific research questions driving this excavation? What institutions funded and oversaw it? And how were the findings interpreted and disseminated to the public? These are just some of the questions that would have to be addressed. It is a reminder that our understanding of art, and of the past, is always mediated by social and institutional contexts.