More Circe than Cassandra: The Princess of Vix in ritualized social context

2002 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Knüsel
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Social Change ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Skeletal Remains ◽  
Biological Information ◽  
Ritual Practice ◽  
Human Skeletal Remains ◽  
Rapid Social Change ◽  
The Social ◽  
Hallstatt Period

Ritual and ritual specialists have often been dissociated from power in the writings of prehistorians and archaeologists. From ethnographic and ethnohistoric accounts, however, ritual specialists often exert disproportionate control over the maintenance, manipulation, and elaboration of social codes and practices. Their roles in ritual practice (orthopraxy in non-literate societies) and its effect on decision-making accord them considerable social and political importance. Due to this involvement they become the targets of ritual sanctions that include punitive rites, ritualized deaths, and suppression during periods of rapid social change, both from within their own societies and from without. The present article derives from a re-analysis of the Vix (Côte-d'Or, Burgundy) human skeletal remains, specifically with reference to the age, sex and health status of the interred individual. An evaluation of the social roles of this so-called ‘Princess’ is then attempted, integrating this biological information with that derived from a consideration of the grave inclusions and their imagery in the context of competitive feasting and social change in the late Hallstatt period.

scholarly journals Embodied Identities in Roman Britain: A Bioarchaeological Approach

Britannia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 ◽  
pp. 177-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Gowland
Keyword(s):  
Roman Empire ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Skeletal Remains ◽  
Biological Information ◽  
Human Skeletal Remains ◽  
Roman Britain ◽  
The Social ◽  
Diversity Of Life ◽  
The Military ◽  
Integrated Study

ABSTRACTHuman skeletal remains from Roman Britain are abundant and provide a rich repository of social as well as biological information concerning health, migration, diet and body/society interactions. At present, skeletal remains tend to be marginalised in studies of Roman trade, the military, economy, urbanisation and the like, yet they have huge potential to contribute to current debates. This article aims to highlight the potential of bioarchaeological analysis for understanding aspects of social identity in Roman Britain through the use of a more integrated, theoretical approach towards embodied interactions. It encourages future collaborative scholarship between bioarchaeologists, archaeologists and historians. The social determinants of health and identity will vary greatly between regions and the only way of establishing the diversity of life across the Roman Empire is through the instigation of a more comprehensive, large-scale, integrated study of funerary and skeletal assemblages.

Bioarchaeological perspectives on the social experience of prehistoric and historic communities

Antiquity ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (360) ◽  
pp. 1656-1658
Author(s):  
Kathryn M. Baustian
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Remains ◽  
Cultural Development ◽  
Human Biology ◽  
Archaeological Research ◽  
Human Skeletal Remains ◽  
The Past ◽  
Archaeological Interpretation ◽  
Physical Environments ◽  
The Social

Traditionally, reconstructions of social complexity in past societies have relied on a plethora of indicators including, but not limited to, ancient texts, monumental architectural and archaeological evidence for hierarchical leadership, surplus storage, craft specialisation and the density of populations. With the exception of mortuary patterns, particularly the quantity and quality of grave goods, bioarchaeological data have featured less prominently in archaeological interpretation. Over the past 40 years, however, the study of human skeletal remains has been more firmly integrated into theoretical explorations of the past, and the broader development of biocultural models has contributed more fully to archaeological research. The first of the two volumes reviewed here is exemplary of current bioarchaeological approaches that draw on human biology, cultural development and physical environments to understand the human experience.

scholarly journals The “priests” of East Cape: A religious movement on the Chukchi Peninsula during the 1920s and 1930s

2009 ◽  
Vol 31 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 39-58
Author(s):  
Peter P. Schweitzer ◽  
Evgeniy V. Golovko
Keyword(s):  
Social Change ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Russian Revolution ◽  
Religious Movement ◽  
Early 20Th Century ◽  
Chukchi Peninsula ◽  
Ritual Practice ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Rapid Social Change ◽  
Cultural Processes

Abstract Recently broadened fieldwork opportunities in Siberia have not only enabled the study of current social and cultural processes, but also facilitated a re-assessment of previous periods of rapid social change. One of those was, undoubtedly, the decade following the Russian Revolution, when Russians and other outsiders significantly increased their impact in many areas of Siberia. Fieldwork conducted during the 1990s has provided evidence of a previously unrecognised phenomenon, namely the existence of a syncretistic system of worldview and ritual practice in the Siberian Yupik village Naukan. Similar to so-called “revitalisation movements” elsewhere, it can be interpreted as a reaction to increasing Russian colonial pressure. The present paper attempts to situate the Naukan movement in its cultural and political contexts, in order to provide a post-colonial reading of early 20th century transformations.

From Life to Death: Dynamics of Personhood in Gallo-Roman Funerary Customs, Luxemburg Province, Belgium

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica I. Cerezo-Román ◽  
Koen Deforce
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Skeletal Remains ◽  
Political Organization ◽  
Frames Of Reference ◽  
Human Skeletal Remains ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Cultural Ideologies ◽  
The Social ◽  
Historical Accounts ◽  
Funerary Customs

This chapter explores the identification of, and changes in, aspects of personhood through the study and interpretation of funerary customs. The geographical and temporal foci are the Luxembourg province of south-eastern Belgium from AD 1–150 where variations in social and political organization are well documented but cremation funeral customs are not. This research explores one overarching question: how did the personhood of the deceased change throughout the different stages of cremation customs within and between two contemporary Gallo-Roman sites located in the Belgian province of Luxembourg? The sites selected are Weyler (Henrotay 2011; Henrotay and Bossicard 1999), located in Arlon, and Houffalize, located in Houffalize/Mont (Henrotay 2012) (Fig. 9.1). Two primary datasets were utilized: 1) biological profiles of the human skeletal remains, and, 2) posthumous treatments of bodies inferred from analysis of the remains within their burial contexts. In this chapter, we also contrast these findings with historical accounts of cremation customs among ancient Roman populations.We argue that Gallo-Roman mortuary practices mediated the dead from biological death through a liminal state where personhood was transformed from subject to object/subject before final burial. The concept of personhood is employed in identity research across the social sciences, and in recent years also has been applied in archaeology (e.g. Fowler 2005; Jones 2005). Our research employs the notion of personhood—what constituted the state or condition of being a person—to elucidate the portrayal of individuals in the past. This definition follows previous research in the concept (e.g. Brück 2006a, 2006b; Fowler 2010; Williams 2004a). Throughout an individual’s life social relationships change and new ones are formed. These also are dependent on the individual’s age, sex, class, race, disabilities, and particular group affiliations, among other factors. Mauss (1985) posited that frames of reference for personhood changed through time and space, according to distinct cultural ideologies. Building on this idea Meyer Fortes (1987) added that personhood also was negotiated and dependent upon social relationships and in light of specific moral codes. These ideas suggest that personhood is a social category, that it is inherently dynamic and relational and that it only takes on meaning through the enactment of relationships.

Women in Power and Decision making Positions : Conditions and Restraints

1970 ◽  
pp. 53-57
Author(s):  
Azza Charara Baydoun
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
Political Life ◽  
The Political ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Power Structures ◽  
Policies And Procedures ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Status ◽  
Slow Progress

Women today are considered to be outside the political and administrative power structures and their participation in the decision-making process is non-existent. As far as their participation in the political life is concerned they are still on the margins. The existence of patriarchal society in Lebanon as well as the absence of governmental policies and procedures that aim at helping women and enhancing their political participation has made it very difficult for women to be accepted as leaders and to be granted votes in elections (UNIFEM, 2002).This above quote is taken from a report that was prepared to assess the progress made regarding the status of Lebanese women both on the social and governmental levels in light of the Beijing Platform for Action – the name given to the provisions of the Fourth Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995. The above quote describes the slow progress achieved by Lebanese women in view of the ambitious goal that requires that the proportion of women occupying administrative or political positions in Lebanon should reach 30 percent of thetotal by the year 2005!

Segments Influencing Individual Investors Behavior And Their Investment Decision

2019 ◽  
Vol 118 (9) ◽  
pp. 154-160
Author(s):  
Dr. Kartikey Koti
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
Stock Markets ◽  
Investment Decision ◽  
Individual Investors ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
The Social ◽  
Karnataka State ◽  
Essential Idea

The essential idea of this assessment is investigate the social factors affecting particular theorists' decisions making limit at Indian Stock Markets. In the examination coordinated standard of direct is Classified subject to two estimations the first is Heuristic (Decision making) and the resulting one is prospect.. For the assessment coordinated the data used is basic natured which is assembled through a sorted out survey from 100 individual money related authorities based out in Hubli and Dharwad city, Karnataka State in India on an accommodating way. The respondents were both sex and overwhelming part male were 68% . These theorists were having a spot with the age bundle between35-45 which is 38%. These respondents have completed their graduation were around 56%. These respondents had work inclusion of 5 to 10 years which is 45% and the majority of which were used in government portion which is 56%. Their compensation was between 4 to 6 Lakh and were fit for placing assets into business areas. The money related experts were widely masterminded placing assets into different portfolios like 32% in Share market and 20 % in Fixed store. These examiners mode to known various endeavor streets were through News, family and allies.  

Scham und Autonomie

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-192
Author(s):  
Sonja Rinofner-Kreidl
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Intentional Content ◽  
Conceptual Clarification ◽  
The Social ◽  
Conventional Behavior ◽  
And Control

Autonomy is associated with intellectual self-preservation and self-determination. Shame, on the contrary, bears a loss of approval, self-esteem and control. Being afflicted with shame, we suffer from social dependencies that by no means have been freely chosen. Moreover, undergoing various experiences of shame, our power of reflection turns out to be severly limited owing to emotional embarrassment. In both ways, shame seems to be bound to heteronomy. This situation strongly calls for conceptual clarification. For this purpose, we introduce a threestage model of self-determination which comprises i) autonomy as capability of decision-making relating to given sets of choices, ii) self-commitment in terms of setting and harmonizing goals, and iii) self-realization in compliance with some range of persistently approved goals. Accordingly, the presuppositions and distinctive marks of shame-experiences are made explicit. Within this framework, we explore the intricate relation between autonomy and shame by focusing on two questions: on what conditions could conventional behavior be considered as self-determined? How should one characterize the varying roles of actors that are involved in typical cases of shame-experiences? In this connection, we advance the thesis that the social dynamics of shame turns into ambiguous positions relating to motivation, intentional content,and actors’ roles.

The Paradox of Poverty: Socio-Economic Aspects of Population Growth.— By T. Scarlett Epstein and Darrell Jackson. The Macmillan of India Limited Delhi, 1975. pp.127.

1978 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 380-382
Author(s):  
M. Javed Akbar Zaki
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Social Situation ◽  
Economic Security ◽  
Rural India ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Economic Progress ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Fertility Decision ◽  
The Social

To many social theoreticians, the population explosion, particularly in the developing nations presents a crippling threat to their developmental pro¬cesses. Their argument's validity rests mainly on the assumption that expected economic progress is swallowed up by unbalanced rise of numbers in the population. The book being reviewed deals mainly with this subject matter and is divided into two parts, each containing three articles contributed by various researchers. Part one, 'The Social context of Fertility Decision' is focused on analyzing the role of factors affecting fertility at the micro-level decision making process. The first article 'Fertility decision in rural India' by Vinod Jainath, examines the applicability to rural India of various models of the process of fertility decision making and finds most of these wanting with respect to the Indian social situation. While analyzing the fertility patterns of Rural India, he points out the positive need for larger families among the poor small farmers mainly due to labour supply considerations. The author argues that unemployment and under¬employment actually motivate the poor to have more children as it better ensures their economic security in their old age. As the chances of gaining employ¬ment for their offspring diminish, they are induced to increase the total number of children in order that atleast one will be able to support them. Thus a vicious circle of poverty arises in large families because of each of the parents wanting to increase their children's chances of employment by ultimately reducing the overall employment opportunities even further and exacerbating their poverty.

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