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REVIEW BY HARRIET HAUGVIK
Ben Paites’ addition to the ‘50 Finds’ series is a well-researched and nuanced exploration of the history of sexuality through material culture.
The book approaches the topic from five distinct angles: from the more standard ‘Historical Figures’ and ‘Mythology’ chapters to the perhaps less expected focus on the ‘Natural World’, ‘Language and Symbols’, and ‘Communities’. A broad range of objects have been selected, and the information is presented in an engaging and accessible way, with a glossary of terms relating to gender and sexuality, and a succinct yet thoughtful introduction to the complexities of discussing LGBTQ+ identities in the past.
The volume is an ambitious undertaking considering the difficulty of tracing LGBTQ+ histories through material artefacts. Although the relationship between chosen objects and the topic can occasionally seem tenuous, the playful and at times unexpected connections that Paites draws are an enriching and fitting way to celebrate the spectrum of gender and sexuality throughout history.
50 LGBTQ+ Finds from the Portable Antiquities Scheme
Ben Paites
Amberley Publishing (£15.99)
ISBN 978-1398122116
