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M/OTHERING

sub-site of Hebe (https://www.doi.org/10.48493/3rz4-wx69), by G. Pedrucci, R. Fernandes, C. Cocozza
Jaimee Uhlenbrock

Abstract

A data set containing the concept of motherhood as found in figurative terracottas from ancient Italy and Sicily. This includes an extensive bibliography and typological lists.

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1M/OTHERING is inspired by the concept of “other-mothering,” where caring for children is a shared responsibility beyond biological mothers, reflecting ancient communal child-rearing practices. This is often depicted in terracotta votive figurines, which provide valuable insights into the religious, social, and familial dynamics of ancient European societies. The dataset includes 2,725 terracotta votive figurines dating from 625 to 27 B.C.E., and originating from the historical regions of Etruria, Latium, Magna Graecia, and Sicilia. This resource facilitates studies on how these objects were used by various agents to interact with both humans and deities, as well as expressing cultural norms and personal emotions. Traditionally, religious artifacts have been studied through texts, but M/OTHERING adopts a material-centered approach, enabling broader analysis of religious practices and social structures in Pre-Roman and Roman Italy. The dataset also helps make information — often restricted by language, paywalls, or local access — readily available to a wider audience.

2M/OTHERING is a sub-site of Hebe, a data repository that collects various forms of data (e.g. written records, stable isotopes, genetics, osteological) concerning the study of past childhood across different cultures and regions. It is housed on Pandora, a platform for the secure storage of data concerning the study of the human story. This service is available to researchers devoted to the study of the human past (e.g. historians, archaeologists, paleoclimatologists). Data storage is managed by the Max Planck Computing and Data Facility (https://www.mpcdf.mpg.de) employing the CKAN data management system (https://ckan.org). The management of unique identifiers is made possible by the Max Planck Library (https://www.mpdl.mpg.de/​en/​). Pandora is financed by an international network of research institutions and groups: Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology (https://www.gea.mpg.de), PS&H (https://www.shh.mpg.de/​1056512/​psh), University of Warsaw (https://en.uw.edu.pl), Masaryk University (https://www.muni.cz/​en), and Eurasia2angle (https://www.shh.mpg.de/​102128/​eurasia3angle_group).

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Bibliography

Pedrucci, G., R. Fernandes, and C. Cocozza. 2025. “M/OTHERING: A Database of Terracotta Votive Figurines Representing Adults with Subadults from Ancient Italy.” Journal of Open ArchaeologyData 13: 14, 1–7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/joad.163

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References

Electronic reference

Jaimee Uhlenbrock, “M/OTHERING”Les Carnets de l’ACoSt [Online], 25 | 2025, Online since 19 December 2025, connection on 15 May 2026. URL: http://journals.openedition.org/acost/4406; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4000/15efr

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About the author

Jaimee Uhlenbrock

State University of New York, New Paltz, uhlenbrj@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

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Copyright

CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

The text only may be used under licence CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. All other elements (illustrations, imported files) may be subject to specific use terms.

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