Describes a range of methods used by archaeologists to infer
ranking from archaeological data.
Social archaeology is concerned with how one might use the
archaeological record of the present to elucidate how social
interactions were ordered in a past society. This requires a
meaningful model of society, considerable archaeological data, and
a reliable connection between them. A major goal of this book is to
improve our understanding of one aspect of social archaeology, the
inference of status hierarchy. The first section covers what is
involved in social inference, and presents ideas on how it may be
done reliably. In the following section, the typological models of
Elman Service and Morton Fried are used to clarify certain aspects
of ranking. The final section draws together a number of insights
concerning the recognition of status inequality. These approaches
are given systematic arrangement and evaluated in light of the
model of social inference. This arrangement clarifies how they
relate to each other, making it easier to see how they may be
applied in varied real contexts, and stimulates new ideas for more
correlations of ranking.
Table of content:
1. The present study of past society; 2. Social theory and social
life; 3. Inequality and social life: a working model; 4. Mortuary
data as evidence of ranking; 5. Mortuary data as evidence of
ranking; 6. The form and distribution of artifacts; 7. Status,
settlements, and structures; 8. Catal Hüyük: a ranked Neolithic
town in Anatolia?; Notes; References; Index.
Ausstattung/Bilder: 223 p. - 1 line diagram 1 half-tone 3 tables
Seitenzahl: 224
Englisch
Abmessung: 189mm x 246mm x 12mm
Gewicht: 408g
ISBN-13: 9780521612005
ISBN-10: 0521612004
Best.Nr.: 21441536
'The book explains the various models of social theory used by archaeologists and provides a coherent review of their respective value in generating inferences from the archaeological record ... an important contribution to the field.' Times Higher Education Supplement
1. The present study of past society 2. Social theory and social life 3. Inequality and social life: a working model 4. Mortuary data as evidence of ranking 5. Mortuary data as evidence of ranking 6. The form and distribution of artifacts 7. Status, settlements, and structures 8. Catal Huyuk: a ranked Neolithic town in Anatolia? Notes References Index.
