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Sir Isaac Newton, Biblical Prophecy, and the Founding of Lunenburg: Discoveries in the Estate Library of the Lunenburg-German Merchant Casper Wollenhaupt, 1755–1809

Richard Henning Field
In the 1980s, two books by Sir Isaac Newton (1643–1727) and a third by the natural philosopher Samuel Clarke (1675–1729), which related to Newton’s writings, were found listed in the 1809 estate inventory of Lunenburg German merchant Casper Wollenhaupt. Set against the backdrop of the founding of Lunenburg and the revolutionary consciousness of the Romantic Era, this essay examines the reading habits of the Lunenburg-German merchant Casper Wollenhaupt to reveal insights into his character and personal life by examining the themes and subject matter of the books in his library, highlighted by the exceptional presence of writings by Sir Isaac Newton on biblical prophecy.

Meta-Materiality: Historical Markers, Placemaking, and Activist Archaeology in Reno, Nevada

Audrey B. Andrews
Historical markers across America marginalize the histories of traditionally underrepresented groups. The historical markers of the greater Reno, Nevada area represent the state of historical markers across the country. As historical markers cement histories into and onto landscapes, they become meta-material cultural objects. By infusing history and landscape, historical markers influence public understandings of the past and are central to placemaking. Archaeologists must engage with public historical narratives to ensure that representations of the past are inclusive and accurate. Because historical markers are an existing and accepted form of public history, they are an ideal way to begin sharing more complete narratives of the past.

African Indigenous Science as Trace Element of Relationships: The Case of Ifá and Ayò Ọlọ́pọ́n among the Yoruba

Oluwọle Tẹwọgboye Okewande
Ifá is regarded as compendium of Yoruba culture because, all aspects of peoples’ life: past, present, future are encapsulated in it. Ayò ọlọ́pọ́n is an indigenous Yoruba board game played globally today. Despite the international nomenclatures of Ifá and ayò ọlọ́pọ́n across nations, no work is known that either established relationship between the two cultural elements or associate any cultural significance to ayò ọlọ́pọ́n numerals as undertaken by this study. Relevant data relating to Ifá and ayò ọlọ́pọ́n performers’ observations, Ifá and ayò ọlọ́pọ́n’s relevant texts are sampled and analyzed with symbolism- a semiotic mode, whereby, a sign represents something or somebody in one or more capacity. This approach is apt because symbolism is basic to Ifá divination system. Comparisons are made and relationships established in-between Ifá and ayò ọlọ́pọ́n numerology. It is found out that, first and second prime numbers- 2 and 3 and, or with third prime number- 5 regulate Ifá and ayò ọlọ́pọ́n systems. It is also stated that Ifá and ayò systems operate around principles of arithmetic progression, permutations and combinations. The study concludes that symbols 2 and 3 in ayò ọlọ́pọ́n and Ifá divination systems are condicio sine qua non and memes.

The Armed Angel: An Examination of Hybridity of the Peruvian Ángel Arcabucero

Gabriella Garmanian Jording
The Ángel Arcabucero is a Peruvian iconography that rose to fruition in the 17th century. Depicting an angel carrying an arquebus, a long firearm, this piece combines traditional aristocratic portraiture with religious imagery. Colonized by Spain in the 16th century, Peru experienced an evangelization of the Catholic Church. Religious imagery became a prevalent theme throughout Peru from the 16th to 19th centuries, specifically in Cusco, a city in the Andean region. The armed angel paintings were created with the intent of adorning the walls and altars of Catholic Spanish churches in Peru. In this paper, I will argue that the Arcangel Arcabucero moves beyond a simple representation of a religious icon and is instead meant to embody aristocratic honor and military control, as it was depicted in Viceregal Cusco. Through examining the hybrid depiction of the Ángel Arcabucero, I will create a deeper understanding of the blending of aristocratic influences with religious imagery and the purpose they served in 17th-19th century Peru. I will also examine the materiality of the brocade garments worn by the angels, along with the shift from the iconography of angels as religious soldiers in a spiritual battle, carrying swords and feathers, to angels personified as militant figures, carrying muskets. I will do this by examining the El Arcángel Salamiel con Arcabuz painting of 19th-century Peru, comparing it to similar images of its time, and examining the influence of Spanish ruling in Peru.

Newman, Sarah. 2023. Unmaking Waste: New Histories of Old Things. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press

Shanti Morell-Hart

Benjamin, Jody. 2024. The Texture of Change: Dress Self-Fashioning and History in Western Africa 1700–1850. Ohio University Press

Sheila Bombaar

MacDowell, Marsha, Ed. 2025. Quilt Arts of South Africa: Threaded Legacies. Bloomington: Indiana University Press

Lisa Binkley