This final chapter addresses the individual research questions posed in the Introduction (Chapter 1), in the light of the data and discussion presented in Chapters 2–7. According to the range of settlement types defined by Troy (see Section 1.1), Amarna and Gurob may be regarded as cities, with a less specialized character and the presence of both a royal court and temples. While Amarna was not long-lived, it was specifically founded as a capital city with a large amount of urban planning. Gurob was certainly occupied for a long period, before and after the New Kingdom. Although Malqata can be defined as a royal city, it does not fulfil Troy’s definition of a city in that it was only very short-lived and served the sole purpose of a location for the festivities in honour of Amenhotep III, for which reason it should most likely be regarded a specialized settlement. In conclusion, it can be said that the presence of high-status goods and evidence of their manufacture enhances a settlement’s status. On the one hand, it proves that a strong demand existed for these types of objects, most of which were not for everyday use, and therefore implies the presence of either a consuming elite or royal court. On the other hand, should no royal court be present, it indicates at least the settlement’s dependence on the favours of royal personages acting as recipients of high-status goods. The presence of such personages would also enhance the settlement’s status. Hence, a developed infrastructure, together with a well-managed system of redistribution, as observed in all three case-studies discussed in this book, may very well be a factor determining a high-status settlement, such as a royal city. It can be stated that the analyses of the archaeological material from Amarna, Gurob, and Malqata have been successful in highlighting several areas of intensive industrial activity despite some issues regarding the nature of the data (see Section 1.4.3). In addition, it has been possible to further define the locations in which most of the finished products were found and, probably, used.
