ANTHR 206 LECTURE 19

COGNITIVE ARCHAEOLOGY PT 1

• Outline:

  • Definition and goals

  • Approaches and methods

  • Archaeology of ritual

Definition and Goals

• Focus: Study of past cognitive processes through material remains.

  • Includes beliefs, myths, tales, taboos, preferences, and images.

• Purpose: World-views provide justification, motivation, and meaning for habitual activities.

• Research Goal: Understanding variation in archaeological findings to explain different ways of life.

Main Assumptions

• Elements of world-views are present in all material remains.

• Areas of study include:

  • Tool design and variability.

  • Procurement and utilization of resources (food, minerals, etc.).

  • Organization and usage of living spaces (e.g., hunting, food sharing vs. scavenging).

Approaches and Methods

• Insight from Archaeological Material: All material artifacts offer context about past societies’ thought processes.

  • Investigate reasons behind societal organization and living strategies.

  • Explore range and organization of activities.

  • Challenge the belief in human exceptionalism—faunal remains found in caves are not solely linked to humans.

Assemblage Variability

• Types of variability examined:

  • Chronological: Changes over time.

  • Seasonal: Variations across seasons.

  • Cultural (Ethnic): Differences among cultural groups.

• Mortuary Rituals: Study of burial practices and their significance.

• Representations (Images): Assessing what images used in rituals indicate about past cultures.

Archaeology of Ritual

• Key Concepts:

  • Ritual behaviors are often repetitive with minimal variation.

  • Usually occur in consistent, specific locations such as:

    • Natural sites (caves, hilltops, springs).

    • Cultural sites (homes, temples, shrines).

  • Use of specific paraphernalia (drums, bells, fire, etc.) indicates high redundancy in ritual practices.

• Evolution of Ritual: Tracking transitions from Shamanic to more organized rituals shows the distinction between part-time and full-time practitioners, emphasizing societal support structure.

Spatial and Cognitive Approaches in Ritual Studies

• Analyzing symbolic meanings associated with:

  • Boundary distinctions (public vs. secret, sacred vs. profane).

  • Deity representations and animal symbolism.

  • Ritual practices as depicted in the archaeological record, often requiring large-scale excavations due to limited deity imagery.

Participation and Offerings in Ritual

• Aspects Investigated:

  • Practices of worshiping, including dance, music, and other expressive acts.

  • Sacrificial rites involving animals or humans.

  • Material contributions (e.g., breakage of votives, discard practices) indicating a considerable investment in the ritual.

  • Food consumption associated with rituals, highlighting the communal aspect.

• Ritual creation and actions must be identifiable; one must differentiate between intentional breaks and accidental damage in archaeological tools.

Archaeology of Ritual Continued

• Importance of examining various sites relative to their functions in cognitive archaeology.