Archaeology of Gender

Prehistory

The time period before written records (documentation)

"Man the Hunter premise"

1) Meat is the most important food item

2) Meat is hunted by men

3) Meat is only obtained by men who bring it home to share with women, in exchange for sexual access

Artefactual Sex

Sex assignment based on the accompanying artifacts in a burial or other archaeological context (compare with biological sex).

Biological Sex

physical characteristics that define male and female

Androcentrism

Male centered; the belief that the male is the norm

"Venus Figurines"

Males are fascinated by women's bodies & view them as signs of fertility

- Made by men for men - paleo porn

Myths of Matriarchy

Describe a society in which women held power

- But due to an inability to handle power, the rule by women was eventually replaced by patriarchal rule (ruled by men)

Continuum in Sex determination

Not strictly binary (male or female)

- both exhibit a male or female trait

Andro

male

Gyno

Female

Examples of Biased Archeological Interpretations

1) Men as the Sole innovators of Technology

2) Binary Skeletons & Universal Sexuality

3) "Venus" Figurines

4) Past Matriarchy

Moche "sex pots"

Misinterpreted of what is being depicted

- Depicted as lineages through the process of bodily fluid and the relationship in maintaining the family lines

Past Matriarchy

The idea that human societies were matriarchal in the past is a theory that has been proposed by scholars

- Ruled by men in the past

JJ Bachofen's Das Mutterecht

Used Myth as evidence to explain why proper civilization needs to be ruled by men

Patriarchy

Rule by Men

Matrilocality

a residential pattern in which a married couple lives with or near the wife's family

What has been the traditional assumption about sexuality?

- Has assumed to be universal & interpretations reflected 20th century sexual norms as inevitable

Presentism

uncritical adherence to present-day attitudes, especially the tendency to interpret past events in terms of modern values and concepts.

What are the three (good) assumptions for the archaeology of gender?

- Gender is found in all societies & structures cultural relations

- There are material dimensions of gender & gender relations (artifacts and areas within sites that reflect gender)

- Those who use certain tools/artifacts are most likely to actually manufacture & maintain them