Social complexity and ceramic technology on Late Bronze Age Cyprus : the new evidence from Enkomi
Utilising previously unpublished ceramic evidence from the important Late Cypriot settlement of Enkomi, this thesis focuses on the impact on Cypriot social organisation of increased involvement with the complex societies of the eastern Mediterranean at the beginning of the Late Cypriot period, c. 1650 BCE. The main focus is on one aspect of the material culture: the first appearances of wheelmade pottery and the relationship of the wheelmade ceramics to the remainder of the assemblage. The introduction of wheelmade pottery has long been seen as a component of the 'social complexity package' and considered to be indicative of highly complex societies, along with full-time specialisation and mass production. The ceramic and settlement evidence from Enkomi is addressed in detail to evaluate the degree of social complexity present for the initial stages of settlement transformation on Cyprus from MCIII-LCIIB, prior to the appearance of urban centres during LCIIC. The extent of excavation at Enkomi, compared to other sites of the period, and the wealth of finds from both mortuary and settlement contexts has led to assumptions about the site's relative importance to the processes of change occurring on Cyprus. The
Crewe, Lindy Anne
Wheelmade pottery ; Enkomi Site (Cyprus) ; Bronze age ; Excavations (Archaeology) ; Social complexity
Social complexity and ceramic technology on Late Bronze Age Cyprus : the new evidence from Enkomi. Utilising previously unpublished ceramic evidence from the important Late Cypriot settlement of Enkomi, this thesis focuses on the impact on Cypriot social organisation of increased involvement with the complex societies of the eastern Mediterranean at the beginning of the Late Cypriot period, c. 1650 BCE. The main focus is on one aspect of the material culture: the first appearances of wheelmade pottery and the relationship of the wheelmade ceramics to the remainder of the assemblage. The introduction of wheelmade pottery has long been seen as a component of the 'social complexity package' and considered to be indicative of highly complex societies, along with full-time specialisation and mass production. The ceramic and settlement evidence from Enkomi is addressed in detail to evaluate the degree of social complexity present for the initial stages of settlement transformation on Cyprus from MCIII-LCIIB, prior to the appearance of urban centres during LCIIC. The extent of excavation at Enkomi, compared to other sites of the period, and the wealth of finds from both mortuary and settlement contexts has led to assumptions about the site's relative importance to the processes of change occurring on Cyprus. The
social_complexity ceramic_technology late_bronze_age cyprus new_evidence utilising previously_unpublished ceramic_evidence important late_cypriot settlement focus impact cypriot social_organisation increase involvement complex_society eastern_mediterranean beginning late_cypriot period_bce main_focus one_aspect material_culture first appearance pottery relationship ceramic remainder assemblage introduction pottery long see component social_complexity package consider indicative highly_complex society along full_time specialisation mass_production ceramic settlement evidence address detail evaluate degree social_complexity present initial_stage settlement transformation cyprus prior appearance urban_centre extent excavation compare site period wealth find mortuary settlement context lead assumption site relative_importance process change_occur cyprus