An evolutionary and quantitative analysis of construction variation in prehistoric monumental burials of eastern Arabia
This study aims to analyse change in prehistoric funerary structures and related material culture of Bronze Age eastern Arabia (Sultanate of Oman and UAE, 3100-2000 BC) from the perspective of cultural evolutionary theory. By observing the patterning of decorative and structural elements in monumental tombs and pottery, new hypotheses about the underlying mechanisms of cultural transmission can be explored. The main objective is to transcend the traditional dichotomy between early and late tomb types by creating an explanatory framework that looks at diachronic variation to lay the foundations for future inference of cultural processes. The research develops a new systematic description of tombs and ceramic materials that allows for consistent observation of change through time. Pattern-recognition methods are applied to both tombs and pottery: structural variability in tombs is observed in space and time, and the association between burials and local geology is tested for significance; variation in ceramic materials is examined, as well as their association with funerary practices. Intra- and inter-site diversity measures are used to investigate the role played by human interaction/isolation and possible
Bortolini, E.
An evolutionary and quantitative analysis of construction variation in prehistoric monumental burials of eastern Arabia. This study aims to analyse change in prehistoric funerary structures and related material culture of Bronze Age eastern Arabia (Sultanate of Oman and UAE, 3100-2000 BC) from the perspective of cultural evolutionary theory. By observing the patterning of decorative and structural elements in monumental tombs and pottery, new hypotheses about the underlying mechanisms of cultural transmission can be explored. The main objective is to transcend the traditional dichotomy between early and late tomb types by creating an explanatory framework that looks at diachronic variation to lay the foundations for future inference of cultural processes. The research develops a new systematic description of tombs and ceramic materials that allows for consistent observation of change through time. Pattern-recognition methods are applied to both tombs and pottery: structural variability in tombs is observed in space and time, and the association between burials and local geology is tested for significance; variation in ceramic materials is examined, as well as their association with funerary practices. Intra- and inter-site diversity measures are used to investigate the role played by human interaction/isolation and possible
evolutionary quantitative_analysis construction variation prehistoric monumental burial eastern arabia study aim_analyse change prehistoric funerary structure relate material_culture bronze_age eastern arabia oman perspective cultural evolutionary_theory observe pattern decorative structural element monumental tombs pottery new hypothesis underlie mechanisms cultural_transmission explore main_objective transcend traditional dichotomy early_late tomb type create explanatory_framework look diachronic variation lay_foundation future inference cultural process develop_new systematic_description tomb ceramic_material allow consistent observation change_time pattern recognition method_apply tombs pottery structural variability tomb observe space_time association burial local geology test significance variation ceramic_material examine well association funerary_practice intra__inter site diversity measure use investigate_role play human_interaction isolation possible