Contextual analysis of economic and social networks : the circulation of Bronze Age soft-stone artefacts in Bahrain and Cyprus
Archaeological research has afforded trade and exchange a critical role in the developing socio-economic complexity of the Bronze Age eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. There are, however, a number of problems arising from previous research: fragmentation of research and focus on specific regions, chronologies and artefact types rather than adopting integrative approaches; over-emphasis on elite institutions and top-down assessments of socio-economic organisation; and a lack of integration of scientific materials studies. This research aims to address these problems by developing a cross-regional, diachronic, community-based and multi-disciplinary approach to study the mechanisms of trade. It incorporates portable X-ray Fluorescence (pXRF) analysis into evaluation of models of socio-economic networks, to provide scientific data on the access of particular sectors of communities to particular raw material networks. This research focuses on soft-stone artefacts, as durable, portable and frequently exchanged products in the Bronze Age eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. It examines two key networks and trading hubs: Early Bronze Age (c.2300-l700BC) Bahrain (ancient Dilmun), and Late Bronze Age (c.l700-IOOOBC)
McGauran, Helen Elizabeth
Contextual analysis of economic and social networks : the circulation of Bronze Age soft-stone artefacts in Bahrain and Cyprus. Archaeological research has afforded trade and exchange a critical role in the developing socio-economic complexity of the Bronze Age eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. There are, however, a number of problems arising from previous research: fragmentation of research and focus on specific regions, chronologies and artefact types rather than adopting integrative approaches; over-emphasis on elite institutions and top-down assessments of socio-economic organisation; and a lack of integration of scientific materials studies. This research aims to address these problems by developing a cross-regional, diachronic, community-based and multi-disciplinary approach to study the mechanisms of trade. It incorporates portable X-ray Fluorescence (pXRF) analysis into evaluation of models of socio-economic networks, to provide scientific data on the access of particular sectors of communities to particular raw material networks. This research focuses on soft-stone artefacts, as durable, portable and frequently exchanged products in the Bronze Age eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. It examines two key networks and trading hubs: Early Bronze Age (c.2300-l700BC) Bahrain (ancient Dilmun), and Late Bronze Age (c.l700-IOOOBC)
contextual_analysis economic_social network circulation bronze_age soft stone_artefact bahrain cyprus archaeological afford trade_exchange critical role develop socio_economic complexity bronze_age eastern mediterranean middle_east however number problem_arise previous fragmentation focus_specific region chronology artefact_type rather adopt integrative approach over emphasis elite institution top_down assessment socio_economic organisation lack integration scientific material study aim_address problem develop cross regional diachronic community based multi_disciplinary study mechanism trade incorporates portable_x ray_fluorescence pxrf analysis evaluation model socio_economic network provide scientific data access particular sector community particular raw_material network focus soft stone_artefact durable portable frequently exchange product bronze_age eastern mediterranean middle_east examines two_key network trade hub early_bronze_age bahrain ancient late_bronze_age