'Through a glass darkly' : obsidian and society in the southern Aegean Early Bronze Age
This thesis considers the social context of Southern Aegean lithic technology during the fourth-third millennia B.C., focusing on the socio-political significance accorded the production and consumption of obsidian blades from the later Neolithic-Early Bronze Age. In Section One (Chapters One-Five) past work on Aegean obsidian is examined critically. Through drawing on data generated by recent surveys and excavations in the southern mainland, the Cyclades and Crete, it is argued that from the later Neolithic - EBII, the working of obsidian shifted from a community-wide basis to being located within a restricted number of settlements. These latter sites, due to their size and associated material culture, are suggested regional centres, acting as loci for skilled knappers and the dissemination of their products. This ability to influence or directly control such individuals is claimed to have played a role in the development of social inequality. The central part of the thesis, Section Two (Chapters Six-Nine) discusses the appearance of fine obsidian blades within the EBI Cycladic burial record, arguing that this new mode of consumption provides a context where one can see the reconceptualisation and political
Carter, Tristan Bruce
Archaeology
'Through a glass darkly' : obsidian and society in the southern Aegean Early Bronze Age. This thesis considers the social context of Southern Aegean lithic technology during the fourth-third millennia B.C., focusing on the socio-political significance accorded the production and consumption of obsidian blades from the later Neolithic-Early Bronze Age. In Section One (Chapters One-Five) past work on Aegean obsidian is examined critically. Through drawing on data generated by recent surveys and excavations in the southern mainland, the Cyclades and Crete, it is argued that from the later Neolithic - EBII, the working of obsidian shifted from a community-wide basis to being located within a restricted number of settlements. These latter sites, due to their size and associated material culture, are suggested regional centres, acting as loci for skilled knappers and the dissemination of their products. This ability to influence or directly control such individuals is claimed to have played a role in the development of social inequality. The central part of the thesis, Section Two (Chapters Six-Nine) discusses the appearance of fine obsidian blades within the EBI Cycladic burial record, arguing that this new mode of consumption provides a context where one can see the reconceptualisation and political
through glass darkly obsidian society southern_aegean early_bronze_age considers social_context southern_aegean lithic_technology fourth third millennium focus socio_political significance accord production_consumption obsidian blade later_neolithic early_bronze_age section_one past work aegean obsidian examine critically draw data_generate recent survey_excavation southern mainland cyclades crete argue later_neolithic work obsidian shift community wide basis locate_within restricted number settlement latter site due size associate material_culture suggest regional centre act locus skilled dissemination product ability influence directly control individual claim played role development social_inequality central_part section_two discuss appearance fine obsidian blade within cycladic burial record argue new mode consumption provide_context see political