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Transforming Identities – New Approaches to Bronze Age Deposition in Ireland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 October 2013

Katharina Becker
Katharina Becker*
Affiliation:
AGES, University of Bradford, BD7 1DP, BradfordUKk.becker@bradford.ac.uk
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Abstract

This paper explores the interpretation of the deposition of artefacts in Ireland from c. 2500 to c. 800 bc, combining a contextual analysis with post-processual ideas about materiality, artefacts, and their biographies. Hoards, single and burial finds are shown to be complementary strands of the depositional record and the result of deliberate deposition. It is argued that both the symbolic value of these items as well as economic and practical rationales determine the depositional mode. The paper attempts to infer social practices and rules that determined the differential treatment of materials and object types. The main structuring factor in the depositional record is the type-specific meanings of individual artefacts, which embody social identities beyond the utilitarian function of the object. The act of deposition facilitates and legitimates the literal and symbolic transformation of artefacts and the concepts they embody. The need for a separation between ritual and profane interpretation is removed, as deposition is understood as the reflection of prehistoric concepts rather than labelled according to modern notions of functionality. It is also argued that both dry and wet places are meaningful contexts and that different forms of wet landscapes were conceptualised differently

Résumé

Changements d'identités – nouvelles approches des dépôts de l’âge du bronze en Irlande, de Katharina Becker

Cet article explore l'interprétation des dépôts d'objets en Irlande d'environ 2500 à 800 av.J.-C., combinant une analyse contextuelle avec des idées post-processuelles sur la matérialité, les objets et leurs biographies. On montre que trésors et trouvailles individuelles ou sépultures sont des facettes complémentaires des vestiges de dépôts et le résultat d'une déposition intentionnelle. On argumente que ce sont aussi bien la valeur symbolique de ces trouvailles qu'un rationnel économique et pratique qui déterminent le mode de déposition. L'article tente d'en déduire les pratiques et règles sociales qui déterminèrent le traitement différent apporté à certains types de matériaux et d'objets. Le principal facteur structurant dans les vestiges de dépôts sont les significations attachées à un type pécifique d'objets individuels, qui incarnent des identités sociales dépassant la fonction utilitaire de l'objet. L'acte de déposition facilite et légitime la transformation littérale et symbolique des objets et des concepts qu'ils incarnent. Le besoin de séparer interprétation rituelle et profane disparait car la déposition est comprise comme le reflet de concepts préhistoriques plutôt que cataloguée selon les notions modernes de fonctionnalité. On argumente aussi qu'endroits secs et humides étaient tous deux des contextes riches en signification et que différentes formes de paysages humides étaient conceptualisées différemment

Zussamenfassung

Identitäten Transformieren – Neue Ansätze zur Interpretation bronzezeitlicher Deponierungen in Irland, von Katharina Becker

Dieser Beitrag widmet sich der Interpretation von Artefaktdeponierungen in Irland aus der Zeit von ca. 2500 bis ca. 800 bc; zu diesem Zweck wird eine kontextuelle Analyse mit postprozessualen Ideen zu Materialität, Artefakten und deren Biographien kombiniert. Horte, Einzelfunde und Grabfunde werden als sich ergänzende Stränge der Gesamtheit von Deponierungen und als das Resultat gezielter Niederlegungen präsentiert. Es wird argumentiert, dass die Art und Weise der Niederlegung sowohl durch den symbolischen Wert der niedergelegten Objekte bestimmt wird als auch durch ökonomische und pragmatische Überlegungen. Der Artikel zielt darauf ab, soziale Praktiken und Regeln, die den unterschiedlichen Umgang mit Materialien und Objekttypen bestimmen, zu erschließen. Der wichtigste strukturierende Faktor für alle Niederlegungen ist die jeweils typenspezifische Bedeutung individueller Artefakte, welche auch soziale Identitäten jenseits der utilitaristischen Funktion des Objekts umfassen. Der Akt der Niederlegung selbst ermöglicht und legitimiert die tatsächliche und symbolische Transformation der Artefakte wie auch der Konzepte, die sie inkorporieren. Die scheinbare Notwendigkeit einer Trennung zwischen ritueller und profaner Interpretation wird überwunden, da die Niederlegung als Widerspiegelung prähistorischer Konzepte verstanden wird und nicht anhand moderner Vorstellungen von Funktionalität angesprochen wird. Es wird auch argumentiert, dass sowohl trockene als auch feuchte Niederlegungsorte bedeutungsvolle Kontexte waren, und dass unterschiedliche Formen von Feuchtbodenlandschaften unterschiedlich aufgefasst wurden

Resumen

Transformando identidades- nuevas aproximaciones a los depósitos de la Edad del Bronce en Irlanda, por Katharina Becker

Este artículo analiza la interpretación de los depósitos de artefactos en Irlanda entre c. 2500 al c. 800 bc, combinando el análisis contextual con las ideas post-procesuales sobre la materialidad, los artefactos y sus biografías. Depósitos, hallazgos aislados y enterramientos se presentan como partes complementarias del registro depositado y como el resultado de una acción deliberada. Se argumenta que tanto el valor simbólico de estos objetos, como razones económicas y prácticas determinan la forma de deposición. El artículo trata de inferir las prácticas sociales y las reglas que determinan el tratamiento diferencial de materiales y tipos de objetos. El principal factor estructurador de los registros de depósito es el significado específico de los artefactos individuales, que encarna identidades sociales más allá de la función utilitaria del objeto. El acto de depósito facilita y legitima la transformación literal y simbólica de los objetos y los conceptos que representan. Se elimina la necesidad de una separación entre la interpretación ritual y profana, ya que el depósito se entiende como el reflejo de conceptos prehistóricos en lugar de una clasificación acorde con las nociones modernas de funcionalidad. También se argumenta que tanto los emplazamientos terrestres como los humedales son contextos de gran significado, y que las distintas formas de paisaje fueron concebidas de modo diferente

Keywords

Depositionhoardssingle findsIrelandEarly Bronze AgeMiddle Bronze AgeLate Bronze Ageidentitiestransformation
Type
Articles
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 79 , December 2013 , pp. 225 - 263
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 2013 

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