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Material culture studies is an interdisciplinary field that examines the relationships between people and their things: the production, history, preservation, and interpretation of objects. It draws on theory and practice from disciplines in the social sciences and humanities, such as anthropology, archaeology, history, and museum studies. Written by leading international scholars, this Handbook provides a comprehensive view of developments, methodologies and theories. It is divided into five broad themes, embracing both classic and emerging areas of research in the field. Chapters outline transformative moments in material culture scholarship, and present research from around the world, focusing on multiple material and digital media that show the scope and breadth of this exciting field. Written in an easy-to-read style, it is essential reading for students, researchers and professionals with an interest in material culture.
In 1998 a massive gold signet ring was found by metal detecting in the parish of Raglan, Monmouthshire (Gwent), close to Raglan Castle. Now generally known as the Raglan ring, it is a remarkable example of late medieval goldsmiths’ work. This paper considers its motifs, legend, date and stylistic affinities. Its findspot is close to the castle-building programme at Raglan continued by William Herbert (executed 1469), who projected his position as premier supporter of the House of York in a variety of ways. Possible ownership is discussed, as is its wider context (including newly discovered signet rings from Wales).
Durante el Holoceno tardío en el archipiélago patagónico septentrional (~41°30′-47°S), convergerían sistemas culturales diferenciados, interrelacionándose grupos con tradiciones culturales portadoras de cerámica y economías basadas en la producción de alimentos (hortícolas) con grupos de cazadores-recolectores-pescadores marinos presentes desde el Holoceno medio. En este trabajo se evalúa los cambios y continuidades en los patrones de subsistencia y dieta de los grupos que ocuparon este archipiélago a lo largo de su secuencia de ocupación, de acuerdo a los resultados del análisis de los valores de δ13C y δ15N correspondiente a restos humanos de 27 individuos (~4400-150 años cal aP) del Archipiélago de Chiloé (~41°30´-43°S), los que son integrados con la información obtenida anteriormente de 36 individuos (~2000-300 años cal aP) provenientes del Archipiélago de los Chonos (~43°-47°S), así como con muestras complementarias de algas y arqueofauna. A partir de la dieta estimada de 63 individuos, se sugiere una baja intensidad de la interacción de estas trayectorias culturales a lo largo del tiempo en el archipiélago patagónico septentrional con continuidad de los sistemas de caza, pesca y recolección marina. Luego del contacto europeo, se reflejarían los mayores cambios en la subsistencia de estos grupos humanos, especialmente en el Archipiélago de Chiloé.
Este artículo explora las manifestaciones arqueológicas del poder y de la diferenciación social en las sociedades muiscas que habitaron el norte del Altiplano Cundiboyacense, centro de Colombia, y que fueron descritas por los españoles del siglo dieciséis como grupos profundamente jerárquicos e inequitativos. Se analiza aquí la relación entre la diferenciación social y las condiciones de vida de las personas sepultadas en el Cercado Grande de los Santuarios, un importante centro político y ritual prehispánico, y se aborda a través de indicadores de diferenciación social. Estos últimos se expresan en el ajuar (presencia o ausencia de vasijas, composición), en la modificación craneal artificial, y mediante indicadores óseos y dentales de estrés fisiológico (hiperostosis porótica, cribra orbitalia, hipoplasia del esmalte dental, reacción perióstica) y de actividad física (cambios entesiales y enfermedad articular degenerativa). Los resultados permiten sugerir que la población no exhibía diferencias importantes en sus condiciones de vida. De acuerdo con los indicadores analizados, si existió diferenciación social, esta no estuvo acompañada de una distinción en las tareas propias de la vida cotidiana que conllevara una separación del grupo dominante.
Processual models of the early state envisioned hierarchical societies with stable social and political structures. More recent research, however, has questioned this vision. Here, the authors explore Middle Horizon (AD 700–1000) Wari state iconography to provide an example of early state social and political organisation from the Central Andes. Social network analysis (SNA) of human figures (‘agents’) depicted in Wari art identifies links between individual agents, as visualised on objects and between the objects’ findspots. The results suggest that the Wari state was more heterarchical than previously imagined. Similar applications of SNA could be used to explore the iconographic evidence of other early, pre-literate states around the world.
The dating and routes by which humans colonised South America continue to be debated. Recent research in Uruguay has yielded new Palaeoindian lithic finds from the southern shores of the coastal Merín Lagoon. The author's analysis of a group of Fell points—comparable to other regional examples—shows that this widespread artefact was produced using locally available materials and that they were repeatedly resharpened and repaired until no longer functional. The finds from the Merín Lagoon permit consideration of changing sea levels and their influence on colonisation routes, resource exploitation and archaeological preservation. The Atlantic coastline may have been one possible route of entry for early colonisers of South America.
Sealings recovered from the Omo M10 temple, a provincial center of the Andean Tiwanaku state (AD 500–1100), and from the Muru Ut Pata neighborhood of the Tiwanaku capital, as well as a signet ring from the Akapana East complex of Tiwanaku's highland capital, shed light on the hitherto undocumented use of seals and sealings in Central Andean complex society. The identification of Tiwanaku sealings related to the signet ring seal has implications for understanding the transmission of identity, authority, and authenticity over time and distance in early Andean states.
The inhabitants of the vast Chalcolithic Trypillia sites of Eastern Europe required highly organised strategies to meet subsistence needs. Here, the authors use isotopic analyses of faunal remains from Maidanetske, Ukraine, to identify intensive and extensive grazing practices. The former demanded intra-community negotiation to ensure access to high-quality pastures for valuable animals such as dairy cows, suggesting that pasture may have also served socially integrative functions. The simultaneous use of extensive pasturing strategies for cattle placed on different pastureland suggests that landscapes were partitioned, with access determined by cooperation or competition. Maidanetske's dual pasturing system reflects the importance of spatially organised practices in maintaining social structure.