From artefact biographies to 'multiple objects': a new analysis of the decorated plaques of the Irish Sea Region

The concept of artefact biographies is well established, but has received increasing criticism from archaeologists and anthropologists. This article reviews this concept and its critiques from the basis of a new digital analysis (using reflectance transformation imaging) of a small group of decorated Neolithic artefacts from the Isle of Man and north Wales: stone plaques. We argue that the plaques are best understood as being situated in diverse and changing networks of relationships because they are altered over time. To adequately comprehend the changes undergone by these remarkable artefacts it is important that we highlight the ontological character of these changes. To this end we argue that, rather than possessing cultural biographies, these artefacts are best described as being ‘multiple objects’