Burial practice and aspects of social structure in the late Chalcolithic of north-east Bulgaria
The study considers archaeological evidence for burials and other mortuary practices from the Late Chalcolithic period in north-east Bulgaria. The Late Chalcolithic is defined (circa 4500-4000 B.C.) and around 900 burials are attributed to two cultural groups within the region in this period. It is argued that previous studies of the evidence can be rejected for assuming a straightforward equivalence between burial forms and social structures. An alternative model of social organization is proposed based on the 'structuration' and 'habitus' models of Giddens and Bourdieu which emphasize the role of the individual in the reproduction of social institutions. This framework is used to examine the importance of (mortuary) rituals and the symbolic use of material culture in strategies intended to maintain or alter the distribution of power and resources. The data is examined using quantitative measures of spatial and temporal variability and statistical measures of association between variables. It is argued that two basic patterns can be discerned and which correspond to the defined cultures. The inland cultural pattern is further divided into two 'types' based on the location and forms of burials. Burial forms
Price, Richard P. S.
Burial ; Copper age ; Prehistoric peoples ; Social structure ; Antiquities ; Bulgaria
Burial practice and aspects of social structure in the late Chalcolithic of north-east Bulgaria. The study considers archaeological evidence for burials and other mortuary practices from the Late Chalcolithic period in north-east Bulgaria. The Late Chalcolithic is defined (circa 4500-4000 B.C.) and around 900 burials are attributed to two cultural groups within the region in this period. It is argued that previous studies of the evidence can be rejected for assuming a straightforward equivalence between burial forms and social structures. An alternative model of social organization is proposed based on the 'structuration' and 'habitus' models of Giddens and Bourdieu which emphasize the role of the individual in the reproduction of social institutions. This framework is used to examine the importance of (mortuary) rituals and the symbolic use of material culture in strategies intended to maintain or alter the distribution of power and resources. The data is examined using quantitative measures of spatial and temporal variability and statistical measures of association between variables. It is argued that two basic patterns can be discerned and which correspond to the defined cultures. The inland cultural pattern is further divided into two 'types' based on the location and forms of burials. Burial forms
burial_practice aspect social_structure late_chalcolithic north_east bulgaria study_considers archaeological_evidence burial mortuary_practice late_chalcolithic period north_east bulgaria late_chalcolithic define circa around burial attribute cultural group_within region period argued previous_study evidence reject assume straightforward equivalence burial form social_structure alternative_model social_organization propose base structuration habitus model bourdieu emphasize role individual reproduction social_institution framework use examine importance mortuary_ritual symbolic use material_culture strategy intend maintain alter distribution power resource data examine use_quantitative measure spatial_temporal variability statistical measure association variable argue two_basic pattern discern correspond defined culture inland cultural pattern divide_two types base location form burial burial form