A landscape and materials-based approach to royal mortuary architecture in early third millennium BC Egypt
This dissertation examines the role that the building of royal mortuary complexes (RMC hereafter) played in the consolidation of the Egyptian state between the reigns of kings Khasekhemwy and Shepseskaf, c. 2,700-2,500 BC. The theoretical basis for this research is inspired by cross-cultural studies that demonstrate (a) that monuments are not only the after-effect of a centralised state system, but may themselves be integrative strategies that contribute more directly to a stateâs formation and consolidation and (b) that a monumentâs location and construction materials reflect both logistical and symbolic concerns with salient socio-political scope. The main analysis offered here consists of a sequential, monument-by-monument archaeological assessment of RMC location and construction materials with a particular emphasis on the role of a specialist workforce. This research combines both quantitative and qualitative methods that help flesh out possible logistical and symbolic implications associated with the decisionmaking process behind each RMC. The working and symbolic properties of a whole range of construction materials is determined via careful use of the limited contemporary, and more abundant later,
Dickinson, T.
A landscape and materials-based approach to royal mortuary architecture in early third millennium BC Egypt. This dissertation examines the role that the building of royal mortuary complexes (RMC hereafter) played in the consolidation of the Egyptian state between the reigns of kings Khasekhemwy and Shepseskaf, c. 2,700-2,500 BC. The theoretical basis for this research is inspired by cross-cultural studies that demonstrate (a) that monuments are not only the after-effect of a centralised state system, but may themselves be integrative strategies that contribute more directly to a stateâs formation and consolidation and (b) that a monumentâs location and construction materials reflect both logistical and symbolic concerns with salient socio-political scope. The main analysis offered here consists of a sequential, monument-by-monument archaeological assessment of RMC location and construction materials with a particular emphasis on the role of a specialist workforce. This research combines both quantitative and qualitative methods that help flesh out possible logistical and symbolic implications associated with the decisionmaking process behind each RMC. The working and symbolic properties of a whole range of construction materials is determined via careful use of the limited contemporary, and more abundant later,
landscape materials based royal mortuary architecture egypt examines_role building royal mortuary complex hereafter play consolidation egyptian state reign king theoretical_basis inspire cross_cultural study monuments after effect centralise state system may integrative strategy contribute directly state_formation consolidation monument location construction material reflect logistical symbolic concern salient socio_political scope main analysis offer consist sequential monument monument archaeological assessment location construction material particular_emphasis role specialist workforce combine_quantitative qualitative_method help flesh possible logistical symbolic implication associate process behind work symbolic property whole_range construction material determine via careful use limit contemporary abundant later