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.