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Cultural identity? The Middle Neolithic Pitted Ware complex in southern Scandinavia

Jennbert, Kristina LU orcid (2015) p.66-74
Abstract
The aim of this short article is to question the archaeological classification of the Neolithic archaeological cultures, and to raise questions about how to understand the fragmentary material culture in terms of social agency and cultural expression. e settlement of Jonstorp in southern Sweden as a case of the south Scandinavian Pitted Ware complex presents theoretical and methodological implications for the study of economic systems in emerging complex societies. We have problems understanding the time in question. The problems might be in the archaeological material and our classifications, in our methods and our ability to understand the past. However, the narrative of the Neolithization and the introduction of animal breeding and... (More)
The aim of this short article is to question the archaeological classification of the Neolithic archaeological cultures, and to raise questions about how to understand the fragmentary material culture in terms of social agency and cultural expression. e settlement of Jonstorp in southern Sweden as a case of the south Scandinavian Pitted Ware complex presents theoretical and methodological implications for the study of economic systems in emerging complex societies. We have problems understanding the time in question. The problems might be in the archaeological material and our classifications, in our methods and our ability to understand the past. However, the narrative of the Neolithization and the introduction of animal breeding and cereal production in southern Scandinavia describe a chaotic period with the construction of monuments and enclosures, technological innovations and colonizing the landscape. Does the material culture at the Pitted Ware sites reflect encounters between regional cultural identities? Can we talk about clashing cultural identities in altered regional economic systems in Scania, southern Scandinavia and in the rest of Europe? My contribution to the debate involves anthropological theories of economic systems, sociological theories of cultural representation, conflict and identity, and above all a critical perspective on archaeological classification. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Pitted Ware culture, Middle Neolithic, Classification, Complex societies, identity, conflict
host publication
Neolithic Diversities : Perspectives from a conference in Lund, Sweden
editor
Brink, Kristian ; Hydén, Susan ; Jennbert, Kristina ; Larsson, Lars and Oalusson, Deborah
pages
66 - 74
publisher
Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Lund University
ISSN
0065-0994
ISBN
978-91-89578-60-9
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f08b03f6-6334-4d68-812d-c9060fe0a87f (old id 8169199)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:41:50
date last changed
2018-11-21 20:29:14
@inbook{f08b03f6-6334-4d68-812d-c9060fe0a87f,
  abstract     = {{The aim of this short article is to question the archaeological classification of the Neolithic archaeological cultures, and to raise questions about how to understand the fragmentary material culture in terms of social agency and cultural expression. e settlement of Jonstorp in southern Sweden as a case of the south Scandinavian Pitted Ware complex presents theoretical and methodological implications for the study of economic systems in emerging complex societies. We have problems understanding the time in question. The problems might be in the archaeological material and our classifications, in our methods and our ability to understand the past. However, the narrative of the Neolithization and the introduction of animal breeding and cereal production in southern Scandinavia describe a chaotic period with the construction of monuments and enclosures, technological innovations and colonizing the landscape. Does the material culture at the Pitted Ware sites reflect encounters between regional cultural identities? Can we talk about clashing cultural identities in altered regional economic systems in Scania, southern Scandinavia and in the rest of Europe? My contribution to the debate involves anthropological theories of economic systems, sociological theories of cultural representation, conflict and identity, and above all a critical perspective on archaeological classification.}},
  author       = {{Jennbert, Kristina}},
  booktitle    = {{Neolithic Diversities : Perspectives from a conference in Lund, Sweden}},
  editor       = {{Brink, Kristian and Hydén, Susan and Jennbert, Kristina and Larsson, Lars and Oalusson, Deborah}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-89578-60-9}},
  issn         = {{0065-0994}},
  keywords     = {{Pitted Ware culture; Middle Neolithic; Classification; Complex societies; identity; conflict}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{66--74}},
  publisher    = {{Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Lund University}},
  title        = {{Cultural identity? The Middle Neolithic Pitted Ware complex in southern Scandinavia}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/4114169/8169209.pdf}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}