The Rochdale barrel shows how the historical significance and value of an artefact may be enhanced by the addition of writing or inscriptions. When the writing is added at a later date, it may create a new significance for the object within the more recent context, as is the case with the Rosetta Stone. Here are some examples.
A British penny
One side of this penny has been defaced as an act of defiance and propaganda. For a fuller explanation, the webpage includes a link to the BBC History of the World radio programme and transcript.
See more See more: https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/asset/suffragette-defaced-penny/fQHNhgeqhbsjPQA drum
A large Sudanese slit-drum whose body has been engraved in different ways at different times as it changed hands. For close-up views and a fuller explanation, the webpage includes a link to the BBC History of the World radio programme and transcript.
See more See more: https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/asset/sudanese-slit-drum/CAEs87PKbeyd6gA Maōri club
Made from whalebone and with its own meaning in Maōri culture, this club gains new significance for Europeans from the fact that it once belonged to Captain James Cook. For a fuller explanation, see Object file: Two Maōri clubs.
See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?searchText=slit%20drum&images=true&ILINK%7C34484,%7CassetId=269755&objectId=512653&partId=1The Rosetta Stone
As well as its three ancient inscriptions which allowed Egyptian hieroglyphs to be deciphered, the Rosetta Stone bears a fourth inscription indicating that it was captured from the French in 1801 following Nelson’s victory at the Battle of the Nile in 1798. For a fuller explanation, the webpage includes a link to the BBC History of the World radio programme and transcript.
See more See more: https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/asset/the-rosetta-stone/DgH6pMM1guUUPAAnnotations by Henry VIII
A variety of documents with annotations by Henry VIII revealing his thoughts on some of the great issues of his reign.
See more See more: http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/henryviii/interactive/