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'Demján P, 2015: Evidence of social Structure of a Neolithic community in Svodín, Southwest Slovakia. Anthropologie (Brno) 53, 3: 363-373'. |
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| Abstract | | The period after initial development of Neolithic society in Central Europe, known as the Post-LBK
era, is marked by an influx of new cultural stimuli from the South and the emergence of formalization in monumental
architecture, resulting in a cultural diversification while maintaining significant common traits across different
regions. An important part of understanding the process of this change is understanding the development of social
complexity during the transition. This study addresses this question by examining variations in burial rite coinciding
with the age or sex of the deceased or the spatial distribution of 106 graves from the Lengyel Culture settlement in
Svodín, dated around 4800 cal BC. The concept of exceptionality rather than richness of burials is introduced. It is
based on the composition and spatial distribution of inventories within graves and contrary to the traditional
deductive approach does not depend on prior selection of attributes of prestige. Principal Component Analysis is
used to assess exceptionality based on ceramic shapes, decoration and non-ceramic grave goods. Resampling tests
using a Monte Carlo algorithm are employed to assess the significance of connection of specific attributes with
exceptional burials and age, sex or spatial groups. This approach enables us to study social differences in regions
and time periods where prestigious materials such as metal are not yet present. New conclusions are drawn about
social stratification in the Post-LBK era and confronted with results of existing studies dealing with status and
prestige. The image of a vertically differentiated society with middle aged men assuming the highest rank in the
community emerges, showing complex social relations both between and within different kinships on the settlement.
Observations of diachronic development of social differences indicate a gradually evolving society, foreshadowing
the emergence of elites in the following Aeneolithic period. | | | | Keywords | | Central Europe – Neolithic – Post-Lbk – Social structure – Burial rite | | |
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