Central Europe during the third millenium BC is characterized by changing cultures and high mobility. One of the cultures at the start of the millennium is the Corded Ware Culture (CWC), deviating...Show moreCentral Europe during the third millenium BC is characterized by changing cultures and high mobility. One of the cultures at the start of the millennium is the Corded Ware Culture (CWC), deviating from the Neolithic farmers and inheriting cultural traits from the Yamnaya-culture in the east, such as language, ideology and burial traditions. One of these burial traditions is the placement of dog remains in CWC burials. In previous research, dog teeth have been noted to be jewellery, purely aesthetic. These artefacts are also linked to the female gender. On the other hand, complete dogs are linked to the male gender and are noted to be higher valued as representation of the third millennium BC ideology. These conclusions are drawn based on the excavated burial complex, and perhaps one other correlated complex. At the time of writing this thesis, the archaeological research is lacking an overview of dog remains in CWC burials in Central Europe, and therefore a (supra)regional understanding of the dog motif. This thesis aims to elevate the practice of dog remains in burials, and therefore the dog motif, to a level higher than ‘just ornamental’ by answering the research question: How do patterns in the deposition of dog remains in third millennium BC burial sites in Central Europe inform us about the representation of dogs in Corded Ware Culture communities? With the sample data set of CWC burials from Central Europe patterns are traced by comparing burial types, orientation, flexing positions, age groups, types of remains and their placement within different types of depositions, and other burial goods. Based on these patterns, the thesis argues that the dog motif transitioned into referencing ancestry of both local Neolithic farmers as of the Yamnaya-nomads through a process called hybridization. The motif is linked to the high mobility of the period, due to the migratory character of wolves. The material representation functions also as a beacon for travelers, and as a mode of storytelling to mark boundaries the traveler is also part of or warned not to cross. The supraregional motif is spread, however, the implementation of the practice of wearing dog teeth is locally different. Especially canines were telling markers, because their shape was imitated in other animal bone in 25% of the burials. These were only encountered with left-flexed individuals, whereas the complete dogs seem to be linked, although not exclusively, to right-flexed individuals. The burial practice of placing dog remains in CWC burials could be one of the signs of the transformation from Neolithic Europe to the Early Bronze AgeShow less
The general focus of this thesis is the international exchange during the early Medieval period, with an emphasis on the relation between the Near East (eastern Mediterranean, Egypt, Levant and...Show moreThe general focus of this thesis is the international exchange during the early Medieval period, with an emphasis on the relation between the Near East (eastern Mediterranean, Egypt, Levant and Mesopotamia) and the south-eastern Netherlands. Since historical sources are scare the study relies on archaeological material. The bead assemblages of twenty sites are examined to provide an insight in the actual numbers and percentages of Near Eastern beads in the research area. These beads are recognized based on their production technique and raw material, which can be traced back to workshops/geographical sources in the Near East. The distribution patterns of these beads reflect the availability of Near Eastern beads, and thus the changes and continuity in exchange networks in which these beads circulated. The Near Eastern beads are evident throughout the complete research area, though they occur not in every site and their numbers differ significantly. The results of this study show a higher occurrence of Near Eastern beads before the seventh century, followed by a decline during the seventh century. The distribution patterns display a higher number of Near Eastern beads at the cemeteries near major rivers, especially in the vicinity of Nijmegen and Maastricht. The mainly seventh century sites of Noord-Brabant contain less Near Eastern beads. These observations suggest a change in the exchange network around the end of the sixth century. The cause of this remains subject of discussion. The increasing control on the rural population by the church, rising powerful families and a change in ideology associated with burial practices, are possible factors that decreased the accessibility of the Merovingian population to Near Eastern beads on a local scale. On an international scale the regression of the Byzantine Empire, which hold a primary position in the exchange network between north-western Europe and the Near East, combined with the power struggles around the Mediterranean Basin could very well have influenced the exchange connections with Europe. At the end of the seventh century, the Near Eastern beads have disappeared from the Dutch Merovingian grave context.Show less
Ancient Roman notions of the feminine were ambiguous: on the one hand the feminine was defined as wild, irresponsible and dangerous, but on the other hand the feminine was defined as a cultured,...Show moreAncient Roman notions of the feminine were ambiguous: on the one hand the feminine was defined as wild, irresponsible and dangerous, but on the other hand the feminine was defined as a cultured, productive and essential element of society. Pearls regularly feature in Roman discourses about the feminine, and posess a similar ambiguity. Pearls were used as a symbol or metaphor for both sides of the ambiguous identity of the feminine in literary, visual and archaeological sources. This thesis analyses the underlying thoughts and connections between pearls and the ambiguous notions of feminine identity in the Roman world.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
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The focal point of this thesis is the relationship between women and jewellery in the Roman Empire. This relationship is surrounded by positive and negative values, e.g. the responses of ancient...Show moreThe focal point of this thesis is the relationship between women and jewellery in the Roman Empire. This relationship is surrounded by positive and negative values, e.g. the responses of ancient authors range from more positive comments to extreme criticism. The central research question was: What social norms, relations and values does jewellery signify regarding women in the Roman Empire? The central aim is to differentiate and investigate the social norms, relations and values that were associated with the relationship between women and jewellery. In order to do this, jewellery finds and sculptural representations of jewellery from Rome (defined as core) and Palmyra (defined as periphery) in the first two centuries AD were studied. These two categories of evidence were analysed separately per region and then compared. Comparative investigation of the material in both regions increases understanding of the signifying function of jewellery with regard to the prevailing social norms. In visual culture other values, social norms and relations come forward than in the jewellery finds. Four central aspects regarding the finds and representations were focused on: types of jewellery, context, social position of the owner/portrayed, and the expression of gender. These aspects followed from the framework that was developed to study the relationship between women and jewellery, which included the concepts gender, sculptural representations and core-periphery. The research problem this study intended to solve was that archaeological evidence has been rather neglected in the study of women and jewellery. The systematic quantitative and qualitative analyses of the jewellery finds and sculptural representations of jewellery from Rome and Palmyra, attempted here for the first time on exemplary sample sets, as well as the comparison between them, have brought new insights to this field of study.Show less
