Vetusta monumenta: a digital edition and antiquarian archive [we are producing a digital edition of vetusta monumenta [ancient monuments], the series of spectacular antiquarian prints published by the…

Vetusta monumenta: a digital edition and antiquarian archive [we are producing a digital edition of vetusta monumenta [ancient monuments], the series of spectacular antiquarian prints published by the society of antiquaries of london from 1718 to 1906. The plates depict a huge variety of artifacts and monuments, ranging from the rosetta stone to the ruins of fountains abbey. By commissioning these large engravings with accompanying essays, the society of antiquaries developed a research agenda based on preservation and set the stage for a widespread and enduring fascination with the past and its objects. We have digitized all 337 engravings, completed the introduction, and over two dozen commentaries while creating a state-of-the-art digital platform, now live at http://vetustamonumenta.ORG. We seek NEH support for the second phase of the project: researching and writing the commentary for the 144 remaining eighteenth-century plates, perfecting the interface, and seeing volumes I-III through peer review and final publication.]