Neolithic meshworks : a multi-scalar approach to understanding social relations within the LBK
This thesis explores the different scales of sociality (or social interaction) found within the LBK through the lens of a broadly meshwork-based perspective. It evaluates the hypotheses that people in the LBK lived in and recognised multiple levels of 'community', that these different communities overlapped, resulting in negotiation and possibly conflict; and that membership of these communities was potentially open and fluid, varying according to season, task or personal preference. With the help of meshwork-thinking, I explore the social relationships that helped to define the LBK. In doing so, I demonstrate that this dynamic, multi-dimensional approach can offer a new perspective on understanding the degree of homogeneity and variation within the LBK tradition. The core of the thesis is divided into three case studies, each concentrating on a specific scale of analysis. The first case study focuses on social interaction at the household scale and considers the emergence of individual households, household complexes and co-operative groups of households within the Merzbach and Schlangengraben valleys. The second case study explores the inter-play between competing family and clan/lineage identities at the
Giddens, Heather
CC Archaeology ; DB Austria ; DD Germany ; DR Balkan Peninsula
Neolithic meshworks : a multi-scalar approach to understanding social relations within the LBK. This thesis explores the different scales of sociality (or social interaction) found within the LBK through the lens of a broadly meshwork-based perspective. It evaluates the hypotheses that people in the LBK lived in and recognised multiple levels of 'community', that these different communities overlapped, resulting in negotiation and possibly conflict; and that membership of these communities was potentially open and fluid, varying according to season, task or personal preference. With the help of meshwork-thinking, I explore the social relationships that helped to define the LBK. In doing so, I demonstrate that this dynamic, multi-dimensional approach can offer a new perspective on understanding the degree of homogeneity and variation within the LBK tradition. The core of the thesis is divided into three case studies, each concentrating on a specific scale of analysis. The first case study focuses on social interaction at the household scale and considers the emergence of individual households, household complexes and co-operative groups of households within the Merzbach and Schlangengraben valleys. The second case study explores the inter-play between competing family and clan/lineage identities at the
neolithic multi_scalar social_relation within explore different_scale sociality social_interaction find_within lens broadly based perspective evaluate_hypothesis people live recognised multiple_level community different community overlap result negotiation possibly conflict membership community potentially open fluid vary_accord season task personal preference help thinking explore social_relationship help define dynamic multi_dimensional offer_new perspective degree homogeneity variation_within tradition core divide_three case_study concentrate specific scale analysis first case_study focus social_interaction household scale considers emergence individual household household complex co_operative group household within valley second case_study explore inter play compete family clan lineage identity