Household consumption in ancient economies : Pompeii and the wider Roman world
This thesis draws upon modern consumption theory to provide an interpretive research framework for examining material culture and consumer behaviour in the Roman world. This approach is applied to data from twelve Pompeian households to identify patterns of consumption, materiality, and motivations for the acquisition of commodities. Analysis of the assemblage data is performed at multiple levels comprising weighted ranking of goods and the application of Correspondence Analysis, with investigation performed on both functional categories and artefact types. Setting the results against theories of consumption and rationality, consumer choice in the ancient world is examined. From this detailed examination of twelve Pompeian houses, âcoreâ and âfringeâ commodities and recurring suites of goods are identified. Non-luxury goods are given particular attention as they provide information concerning the consumption of everyday utility objects. This approach also allows the evaluation of statements about the state of occupation of houses in sites such as Pompeii. The results validate this form of analysis as an important tool for assessing the role of the consumer in economies of the ancient world, moving
Ray, Nicholas Martin
Consumption material culture household Pompeii materialism correspondence analysis
Household consumption in ancient economies : Pompeii and the wider Roman world. This thesis draws upon modern consumption theory to provide an interpretive research framework for examining material culture and consumer behaviour in the Roman world. This approach is applied to data from twelve Pompeian households to identify patterns of consumption, materiality, and motivations for the acquisition of commodities. Analysis of the assemblage data is performed at multiple levels comprising weighted ranking of goods and the application of Correspondence Analysis, with investigation performed on both functional categories and artefact types. Setting the results against theories of consumption and rationality, consumer choice in the ancient world is examined. From this detailed examination of twelve Pompeian houses, âcoreâ and âfringeâ commodities and recurring suites of goods are identified. Non-luxury goods are given particular attention as they provide information concerning the consumption of everyday utility objects. This approach also allows the evaluation of statements about the state of occupation of houses in sites such as Pompeii. The results validate this form of analysis as an important tool for assessing the role of the consumer in economies of the ancient world, moving
household consumption ancient_economy pompeii wider roman_world draw_upon modern consumption theory provide interpretive_framework examine material_culture consumer_behaviour roman_world apply data twelve household identify pattern_consumption materiality motivation acquisition commodity analysis assemblage data perform multiple_level comprise weight ranking good application correspondence_analysis investigation perform functional_category artefact_type setting theory consumption rationality consumer choice ancient_world examine detailed_examination twelve house core fringe commodity recur suite good identify non luxury_good give particular_attention provide_information concern consumption everyday utility object also_allow evaluation statement state occupation house sit pompeii validate form analysis important tool assess_role consumer economy ancient_world move