Archaeological archives take up a significant amount of shelf space in any archaeological depot or museum, yet these are rarely presented as primary storytelling tools. As the public image of archaeology is still largely defined by the physical remains of sites and the finds that are associated with them, these are also often the focus of archaeological publications and displays, confining the purview of archaeological documentation to behind-the-scenes research. However, these records do not just illustrate an object, feature or site, they connect the past to the present as narratives of human interpretation and changes in archaeological and museological practice. In this paper, I draw from four brief case studies from my own research, each pertaining to different aspects of collection interpretation, display, and engagement. These practical examples highlight the importance of integrating documentary and material collections in research and outreach spaces. This integration helps us to present the diverse aspects of archaeological research, give value to under-resourced collections, explore meaning across different sources, and display the processes through which we create knowledge. 

中文翻译：

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文物及其文本：从挖掘到展示的古代近东收藏品的语境化

考古档案在任何考古仓库或博物馆中占据了大量的货架空间，但它们很少被用作主要的讲故事工具。由于考古学的公众形象仍然主要由遗址的物理遗迹和与之相关的发现来定义，这些也往往是考古出版物和展示的重点，将考古文献的范围限制在幕后研究. 然而，这些记录不仅仅说明了一个物体、特征或地点，它们将过去与现在联系起来，作为人类解释的叙述以及考古和博物馆学实践的变化。在本文中，我从我自己的研究中提取了四个简短的案例研究，每个案例都涉及收藏品解释、展示和参与的不同方面。这些实际例子强调了将文献和资料收藏整合到研究和外展空间中的重要性。这种整合有助于我们展示考古研究的各个方面，为资源不足的藏品赋予价值，探索不同来源的意义，并展示我们创造知识的过程。