This work analyses change in prehistoric funerary structures and related material culture of Early Bronze Age eastern Arabia (Northern Oman and UAE, 3100-2000 BC) from the perspective of cultural evolutionary theory (Cavalli-Sforza and Feldman, 1981; Boyd and Richerson, 1985). By observing decorative and structural elements in monumental tombs and pottery, new hypotheses about the underlying mechanisms of cultural transmission can be explored. The main objective is to transcend the traditional dichotomy between early and late tomb types by creating an explanatory framework that looks at diachronic variation for inferring cultural processes. The research develops a new systematic description of burials and ceramics. Diversity measures are used to investigate the role played by human interaction/isolation and demography in determining adoption, replication, systematic preference and persistence of the examined cultural variants. Results confirm that specific mechanisms are at work in different moments of time, for both tombs and ceramics. By starting to research the processes underlying structural change, this work allows for a reassessment of the current interpretation of prehistoric funerary practices, and generates new hypotheses on the movement of people and ideas in a still largely unexplored context.
Fashion or social meaning? Analysing change in monumental burials of prehistoric eastern Arabia
BORTOLINI, EUGENIO
2014
Abstract
This work analyses change in prehistoric funerary structures and related material culture of Early Bronze Age eastern Arabia (Northern Oman and UAE, 3100-2000 BC) from the perspective of cultural evolutionary theory (Cavalli-Sforza and Feldman, 1981; Boyd and Richerson, 1985). By observing decorative and structural elements in monumental tombs and pottery, new hypotheses about the underlying mechanisms of cultural transmission can be explored. The main objective is to transcend the traditional dichotomy between early and late tomb types by creating an explanatory framework that looks at diachronic variation for inferring cultural processes. The research develops a new systematic description of burials and ceramics. Diversity measures are used to investigate the role played by human interaction/isolation and demography in determining adoption, replication, systematic preference and persistence of the examined cultural variants. Results confirm that specific mechanisms are at work in different moments of time, for both tombs and ceramics. By starting to research the processes underlying structural change, this work allows for a reassessment of the current interpretation of prehistoric funerary practices, and generates new hypotheses on the movement of people and ideas in a still largely unexplored context.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
