Feasting and shared drinking practices in the Early Bronze Age II-III (2650-2000 BC) of north-central and western Anatolia
Feasting and shared drinking are long suspected to have been practiced in Anatolian settlements during the Early Bronze Age (EBA). New drinking vessels of metal and ceramic seem meant for drinking together with others. Platters and bowls seem intended to display food and vessel handling. No study has examined these practices in detail. This is largely because of a lack of evidence for the production of special beverages, for instance wine, beer, or mead. The Early Bronze Age is a period of intensifying personal distinction. It is characterised by developments in metallurgy, craft production, long-distance exchange, and at some sites, monumental architecture. Yet how EBA Anatolian communities were organised is unclear. A lack of writing and a limited number of seals suggest that there was no central administration within settlements. This contrasts with contemporaneous sites in southeastern Turkey and in Mesopotamia, whose metallurgy, craft production, architecture, and other developments were overseen by temple and palace complexes. This thesis uses feasting and drinking as a way to examine the social complexity of EBA Anatolian sites. It compiles evidence for these activities in both north-central and western
Whalen, Jessica Lea
Early Bronze Age ; Anatolia ; drinking vessels ; feasting
Feasting and shared drinking practices in the Early Bronze Age II-III (2650-2000 BC) of north-central and western Anatolia. Feasting and shared drinking are long suspected to have been practiced in Anatolian settlements during the Early Bronze Age (EBA). New drinking vessels of metal and ceramic seem meant for drinking together with others. Platters and bowls seem intended to display food and vessel handling. No study has examined these practices in detail. This is largely because of a lack of evidence for the production of special beverages, for instance wine, beer, or mead. The Early Bronze Age is a period of intensifying personal distinction. It is characterised by developments in metallurgy, craft production, long-distance exchange, and at some sites, monumental architecture. Yet how EBA Anatolian communities were organised is unclear. A lack of writing and a limited number of seals suggest that there was no central administration within settlements. This contrasts with contemporaneous sites in southeastern Turkey and in Mesopotamia, whose metallurgy, craft production, architecture, and other developments were overseen by temple and palace complexes. This thesis uses feasting and drinking as a way to examine the social complexity of EBA Anatolian sites. It compiles evidence for these activities in both north-central and western
feasting share drinking practice early_bronze_age iii north_central western_anatolia feasting share drinking long suspect anatolian settlement early_bronze age eba new drinking vessel metal ceramic seem mean drink together others bowl seem intend display food vessel handling study examine practice detail largely lack_evidence production special instance wine beer early_bronze_age period intensify personal distinction characterised development metallurgy craft_production long_distance exchange site monumental_architecture yet eba anatolian community organise unclear lack write limited_number seal suggest central_administration within settlement contrast contemporaneous site southeastern turkey mesopotamia whose metallurgy craft_production architecture development temple palace feast drink way examine social_complexity eba anatolian sit evidence activity north_central western