Human-animal relationships in the Eurasian steppe, Iron Age : an exploration into social, economic and ideological change
As an overarching theme, this thesis is concerned with investigating the symbolic relationships created between humans and animals during the Eurasian steppe Early Iron Age period. Based on first-hand experience in cooperative zooarchaeological fieldwork with the Russian Academy of Sciences, the thesis critically examines conventional theoretical models of early <i>semi-nomadic</i> and <i>nomadic</i> pastoralist development and associated social, economic and political changes connected with this phenomenon. Further to this, the thesis investigates the symbolic complexity of changing ideological and cognitive frameworks relating to mortuary behaviours and other ritual practices which have been traditionally linked to the appearance of vertically stratified warrior-based societies. These significant issues are evaluated through both a review of traditional theoretical and methodological approaches to the Early Iron Age period of the Eurasian steppe region and the presentation of original zooarchaeological analyses of faunal remains recovered from fortified settlement sites and kurgan (barrow) funerary constructions in the Trans Ural region, Russian Federation. In the early chapters of the thesis, conventional
Hanks, B. K.
Human-animal relationships in the Eurasian steppe, Iron Age : an exploration into social, economic and ideological change. As an overarching theme, this thesis is concerned with investigating the symbolic relationships created between humans and animals during the Eurasian steppe Early Iron Age period. Based on first-hand experience in cooperative zooarchaeological fieldwork with the Russian Academy of Sciences, the thesis critically examines conventional theoretical models of early <i>semi-nomadic</i> and <i>nomadic</i> pastoralist development and associated social, economic and political changes connected with this phenomenon. Further to this, the thesis investigates the symbolic complexity of changing ideological and cognitive frameworks relating to mortuary behaviours and other ritual practices which have been traditionally linked to the appearance of vertically stratified warrior-based societies. These significant issues are evaluated through both a review of traditional theoretical and methodological approaches to the Early Iron Age period of the Eurasian steppe region and the presentation of original zooarchaeological analyses of faunal remains recovered from fortified settlement sites and kurgan (barrow) funerary constructions in the Trans Ural region, Russian Federation. In the early chapters of the thesis, conventional
human_animal_relationship eurasian_steppe iron_age exploration social_economic ideological change overarch_theme concerned investigate symbolic relationship create human_animal eurasian_steppe early_iron_age period based first_hand experience cooperative zooarchaeological fieldwork russian academy critically_examine conventional theoretical_model early semi nomadic nomadic pastoralist development associate social_economic political_change connect phenomenon investigate symbolic complexity change ideological cognitive framework relate mortuary_behaviour ritual_practice traditionally link appearance stratify warrior based society significant issue evaluate review traditional theoretical_methodological approach early_iron_age period eurasian_steppe region presentation original zooarchaeological_analysis faunal_remains recover fortified settlement_site barrow funerary construction trans region russian federation early conventional