Expressions of gender in mortuary behaviour from Middle Helladic and Mycenaean burial samples in the Aegean
Gender, particularly in regard to Mycenaean constructions of masculinity and male ideologies and identities, has affected and influenced Aegean Prehistory throughout its history as a discipline. The research aims to critically re-investigate the question of gender roles, status and ideology and to understand how expressions of gender in funerary behaviour varied among different groups across space and time during the Middle and Late Bronze Age (2100 BC-1100 BC) in the Aegean. To do this, statistical analysis of cemeteries in which human remains have been osteologically analysed was conducted using the gender attribution approach, and then results were extrapolated in an exploratory fashion to select cemeteries without sexed skeletal remains. The interpretation of results is informed by archaeological context, current discourses of gender archaeology and archaeological mortuary theory. Analyses revealed that: 1) in earlier Middle Helladic (2100-1800 BC) burial practice individual burials were distinguished but not overtly differentiated in terms of material expressions of identity, however at certain sites high-status female burials were accompanied by small but wealthy assemblages and were often linked to
Leith, K. E.
Expressions of gender in mortuary behaviour from Middle Helladic and Mycenaean burial samples in the Aegean. Gender, particularly in regard to Mycenaean constructions of masculinity and male ideologies and identities, has affected and influenced Aegean Prehistory throughout its history as a discipline. The research aims to critically re-investigate the question of gender roles, status and ideology and to understand how expressions of gender in funerary behaviour varied among different groups across space and time during the Middle and Late Bronze Age (2100 BC-1100 BC) in the Aegean. To do this, statistical analysis of cemeteries in which human remains have been osteologically analysed was conducted using the gender attribution approach, and then results were extrapolated in an exploratory fashion to select cemeteries without sexed skeletal remains. The interpretation of results is informed by archaeological context, current discourses of gender archaeology and archaeological mortuary theory. Analyses revealed that: 1) in earlier Middle Helladic (2100-1800 BC) burial practice individual burials were distinguished but not overtly differentiated in terms of material expressions of identity, however at certain sites high-status female burials were accompanied by small but wealthy assemblages and were often linked to
gender mortuary_behaviour middle mycenaean burial sample aegean gender particularly_regard mycenaean construction masculinity male ideology identity affect influenced aegean prehistory throughout_history discipline aim critically investigate question gender_role status ideology expression gender funerary_behaviour vary among different_group across_space time middle_late_bronze_age aegean statistical_analysis cemetery human_remain analyse conduct use gender attribution extrapolate exploratory fashion select cemetery without skeletal_remain interpretation inform_archaeological context current_discourse gender archaeology archaeological mortuary theory analyses reveal early middle burial_practice individual burial distinguish overtly differentiate term material_expression identity however certain site high_status female burial accompany small wealthy assemblage often link