Hybridisation of an imperial encounter : Egypt and the Wadi Gaza in the Late Bronze Age
Processes of culture contact have been approached in traditional studies on early empires through unilateral perspectives such as acculturation studies and World System theories. Over the past decades, however, a new scepticism of these dominant narratives has emerged. The Wadi Gaza area during the period of Egyptian New Kingdom imperialism provides a to-date little utilised analytical arena in which to explore the challenges and opportunities of a different approach. This research aims to critically examine the imperial encounter between Egypt and the Gaza area, revaluating its timeframe and changing nature, and highlighting differences from previous interpretations of Egyptian imperial narrative. I approach these issues using a conceptual framework based on postcolonial concepts of hybridisation and cultural fluidity, which sees contact between cultures as a constant negotiation. The aims are addressed through a multiscalar approach, focusing on the regional scale, first, and on two site-specific case studies, Tell el-cAjjul and Tell el-Farcah (South), then. I investigated these case studies through the analysis of their major âEgyptianizingâ features alongside significant local material evidence. I
Massafra, Angela
CC Archaeology
Hybridisation of an imperial encounter : Egypt and the Wadi Gaza in the Late Bronze Age. Processes of culture contact have been approached in traditional studies on early empires through unilateral perspectives such as acculturation studies and World System theories. Over the past decades, however, a new scepticism of these dominant narratives has emerged. The Wadi Gaza area during the period of Egyptian New Kingdom imperialism provides a to-date little utilised analytical arena in which to explore the challenges and opportunities of a different approach. This research aims to critically examine the imperial encounter between Egypt and the Gaza area, revaluating its timeframe and changing nature, and highlighting differences from previous interpretations of Egyptian imperial narrative. I approach these issues using a conceptual framework based on postcolonial concepts of hybridisation and cultural fluidity, which sees contact between cultures as a constant negotiation. The aims are addressed through a multiscalar approach, focusing on the regional scale, first, and on two site-specific case studies, Tell el-cAjjul and Tell el-Farcah (South), then. I investigated these case studies through the analysis of their major âEgyptianizingâ features alongside significant local material evidence. I
imperial encounter egypt processes culture_contact approach traditional study early empires unilateral perspective acculturation study world system theory however new scepticism dominant narrative emerge area period egyptian new_kingdom imperialism provide date little utilised analytical arena explore challenge opportunity different_approach aim critically examine imperial encounter egypt area timeframe change_nature highlight difference previous_interpretation egyptian imperial narrative issue use conceptual_framework base postcolonial concept cultural fluidity see contact culture constant negotiation aim_address focus regional_scale first_two site_specific case_study tell tell south then investigated case_study analysis major feature alongside significant local material_evidence