To what extent can interconnections with the Cyclades be identified in the Early Bronze Age Aegean through the burial record?
The Early Bronze Age Aegean (hereafter EBA) is a period for which direct evidence for large-scale sailing ventures is limited. However, cultural, social and economic developments seem to occur between areas separated by the Aegean Sea. The aim of this thesis is to address the question: To what extent can interconnections be identified with the Cyclades in the EBA Aegean through the burial record? Burials are a good measure of interaction because unlike artefacts they represent social processes deeply embedded in systems of social order, cultural meaning and daily habituation. This is important as settlement evidence and domestic assemblages are often unavailable for the EBA period. Burial practices all imply direct experience, contact and extended interaction in a way that cannot be so easily presumed for other, more portable forms, for example, material culture. These elements are enduring and cannot be traded and so provide a good source for determining interconnections in the EBA period. Cemetery evidence will be presented from the Cyclades, Crete and mainland Greece, organised by three main themes of grave architecture, burial and the treatment of the dead and ritual practices. The evidence from these
Nolan-Webster, A. C.
To what extent can interconnections with the Cyclades be identified in the Early Bronze Age Aegean through the burial record?. The Early Bronze Age Aegean (hereafter EBA) is a period for which direct evidence for large-scale sailing ventures is limited. However, cultural, social and economic developments seem to occur between areas separated by the Aegean Sea. The aim of this thesis is to address the question: To what extent can interconnections be identified with the Cyclades in the EBA Aegean through the burial record? Burials are a good measure of interaction because unlike artefacts they represent social processes deeply embedded in systems of social order, cultural meaning and daily habituation. This is important as settlement evidence and domestic assemblages are often unavailable for the EBA period. Burial practices all imply direct experience, contact and extended interaction in a way that cannot be so easily presumed for other, more portable forms, for example, material culture. These elements are enduring and cannot be traded and so provide a good source for determining interconnections in the EBA period. Cemetery evidence will be presented from the Cyclades, Crete and mainland Greece, organised by three main themes of grave architecture, burial and the treatment of the dead and ritual practices. The evidence from these
extent interconnection cyclades identify early_bronze age aegean burial record early_bronze age aegean hereafter eba period direct_evidence large_scale sailing venture limit however cultural social_economic development seem occur area separate aegean sea aim_address question_extent interconnection identify cyclades eba aegean burial record burials good measure interaction unlike artefact represent social_process deeply embed system social_order cultural mean daily important settlement evidence domestic_assemblage often unavailable eba period burial_practice imply direct experience contact extend interaction way easily presume portable form example material_culture element endure trade provide_good source determine interconnection eba period cemetery evidence_present cyclades crete mainland_greece organise three_main theme grave architecture burial treatment_dead ritual_practice evidence