Regional variation in the ceramics of Neolithic Cyprus : implications for the socio-economic and cultural dynamics of a prehistoric island society
The Ceramic Neolithic (SCU) period in Cyprus is unusual because of the island-wide uniformity observable in the material culture remains. It is only in the ceramic repertoire that regional variation can be detected, and this is most clearly evident in the surface decoration on the painted pottery. Regional variation is common in prehistoric societies, where external elements can act upon social and economic structures and thereby contribute to diversity. In Cyprus, where there were no external influences, factors that contributed to diversity were internally circumscribed. The predominant forces acting upon SCU Cyprus were economic. Subsistence strategies governed the ways in which early populations conducted their daily lives and interacted with others. The undertaking of seasonally related subsistence tasks would have directed the types of interaction that occurred between village groups and regions. Looking specifically at the material culture of the SCU phase, and in particular the distribution of variation in the pottery, the socio-economic processes that contributed to regional diversity are defined. Ceramic variation in SCU Cyprus is predominantly stylistic, and style can appear in many guises. Moreover,
Clarke, Joanne Trudie
Regional variation in the ceramics of Neolithic Cyprus : implications for the socio-economic and cultural dynamics of a prehistoric island society. The Ceramic Neolithic (SCU) period in Cyprus is unusual because of the island-wide uniformity observable in the material culture remains. It is only in the ceramic repertoire that regional variation can be detected, and this is most clearly evident in the surface decoration on the painted pottery. Regional variation is common in prehistoric societies, where external elements can act upon social and economic structures and thereby contribute to diversity. In Cyprus, where there were no external influences, factors that contributed to diversity were internally circumscribed. The predominant forces acting upon SCU Cyprus were economic. Subsistence strategies governed the ways in which early populations conducted their daily lives and interacted with others. The undertaking of seasonally related subsistence tasks would have directed the types of interaction that occurred between village groups and regions. Looking specifically at the material culture of the SCU phase, and in particular the distribution of variation in the pottery, the socio-economic processes that contributed to regional diversity are defined. Ceramic variation in SCU Cyprus is predominantly stylistic, and style can appear in many guises. Moreover,
regional_variation ceramic neolithic cyprus implication socio_economic cultural_dynamic prehistoric_island society ceramic neolithic period cyprus unusual island wide uniformity observable material_culture remain ceramic repertoire regional_variation detect clearly evident surface decoration paint pottery regional_variation common prehistoric_society external element act_upon social_economic structure thereby contribute diversity cyprus external_influence factor_contribute diversity internally circumscribe predominant force act_upon cyprus economic subsistence_strategy govern way early population conduct daily_life interact others undertake seasonally relate subsistence task would direct type interaction occur village group region looking specifically material_culture phase particular distribution variation pottery socio_economic process contribute regional diversity define ceramic variation cyprus predominantly stylistic style appear many guise moreover