Symbols, spaces and materiality : a transmission-based approach to Aegean Bronze Age ritual
This thesis explores the transmission of ritual practices in the second millennium BC Aegean. In contrast to previous approaches, which often overlook gaps in the diachronic record, emphasising continuity in cult practice over very long timescales, it is argued here that through charting the spatial and temporal distributions of three broad material types (cult symbols, spaces and objects), it is possible to document the spread of cult practice over time and space, and, crucially, to monitor changes in ritual between periods and between regions. Quantitative analyses of eight Cretan cult symbols, and examinations of each type of Aegean cult space and their associated ritual objects are employed in order to determine the extent to which ritual systems remained stable or underwent transformation over a thousand-year period. These analyses also expose the mechanisms by which ritual practice was transmitted. By relating the periods of stability and flux in ritual practice to the wider social and political changes seen in the Aegean during the Bronze Age, the role of ritual in the formation, maintenance and dissolution of political systems in different regions of the Aegean becomes more apparent. The wider aim
Briault, Camilla
Symbols, spaces and materiality : a transmission-based approach to Aegean Bronze Age ritual. This thesis explores the transmission of ritual practices in the second millennium BC Aegean. In contrast to previous approaches, which often overlook gaps in the diachronic record, emphasising continuity in cult practice over very long timescales, it is argued here that through charting the spatial and temporal distributions of three broad material types (cult symbols, spaces and objects), it is possible to document the spread of cult practice over time and space, and, crucially, to monitor changes in ritual between periods and between regions. Quantitative analyses of eight Cretan cult symbols, and examinations of each type of Aegean cult space and their associated ritual objects are employed in order to determine the extent to which ritual systems remained stable or underwent transformation over a thousand-year period. These analyses also expose the mechanisms by which ritual practice was transmitted. By relating the periods of stability and flux in ritual practice to the wider social and political changes seen in the Aegean during the Bronze Age, the role of ritual in the formation, maintenance and dissolution of political systems in different regions of the Aegean becomes more apparent. The wider aim
symbols space materiality transmission based aegean_bronze_age ritual explores transmission ritual_practice second_millennium aegean contrast_previous approach often_overlook gap diachronic record emphasise continuity cult_practice long argue chart spatial_temporal distribution three_broad material type cult symbol space object possible document spread cult_practice time_space crucially monitor change ritual period region quantitative_analysis cretan cult symbol examination type aegean cult space associate ritual object employ_order determine_extent ritual system remain stable underwent transformation thousand year_period analysis also expose mechanism ritual_practice transmit relate period stability flux ritual_practice wider_social political_change see aegean_bronze_age role ritual formation_maintenance dissolution political_system different_region aegean becomes apparent wider aim