Lara says it on basis of modern ethnographic analogy. Tying land to inheritance is fair. But it’s not a strength of the paper. So. If patrilineal descent systems, patrilocality, male founder burials, w. apex status grave goods, texts mention men as war & political leaders. We think men were not? - ThreadSky

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prehistorian.bsky.social • 42 days ago

Lara says it on basis of modern ethnographic analogy. Tying land to inheritance is fair. But it’s not a strength of the paper.

So. If patrilineal descent systems, patrilocality, male founder burials, w. apex status grave goods, texts mention men as war & political leaders. We think men were not?

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harryfokkens.bsky.social•42 days ago

Indeed, were not! Because founder burials, status goods, patrilinearity are our interpretation of burial rites and grave goods. Which are a warped impression of the real society. Especially because women are much less 'visible' in grave goods. So we need other arguments to support such claims.

prehistorian.bsky.social•42 days ago

Well indeed. But that hasn’t stopped us assuming patriarchal social forms. Women are much less visible in grave goods? Not in EIA France or Germany, Austria. Or MIA Yorkshire. In Rhineland yes, Bavaria, Netherlands. There is variability in the burial record. I suspect also in the aDNA on descent.

prehistorian.bsky.social•42 days ago

I mean I’m fine with that, but we’ll have to do a lot of re-writing!

prehistorian.bsky.social•42 days ago

But yes, seriously, the argument for Durotrugian grave goods is not a particularly sound one. And I do think apex female status isn’t usual by the Late Iron Age, but surviving matrilineal descent is very interesting indeed. Now we need to see what else we can find. I suspect high variation.

harryfokkens.bsky.social•42 days ago

I agree. I would expect regional or rather tribal variation. Which is why we need many similar thoughtful studies. A pity IA continentals burnt all of the genetic evidence in urnfields.

prehistorian.bsky.social•42 days ago

Yes! Really I think Britain will hold onto the old traditions longest. I would love to see what Rhineland and Bavaria are doing. Exactly. I think this is perhaps a problem too for the EBA record which is why we must remain cautious about *all* grand narratives.

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