The Archaeology of Mediterranean Prehistory

This book offers a comprehensive introduction to the archaeology of Mediterranean prehistory. Its case studies, spanning the Neolithic through the Iron Age, are drawn from all the Mediterranean’s major lands, coasts, and islands. Written by fourteen of the leading archaeologists in the field, The Archaeology of Mediterranean Prehistory presents diverse theoretical approaches that enable students as well as other archaeologists to see the benefits of multivocality. The chapters look beyond Mediterranean diversity toward common links based on social interaction and geography. The book also includes an introductory overview that situates this work in wider Mediterranean scholarship and offers new insights into the histories and cultures of ancient Mediterranean peoples.

List of Figures. List of Tables. Notes on Contributors. Acknowledgments. 1. Prehistory in the Mediterranean: The Corrupting and Connecting Sea: A. Bernard Knapp and Emma Blake (University of Glasgow; University of Michigan). 2. Substances in Motion: Neolithic Mediterranean ‘Trade’: John E. Robb and R. Helen Farr (both University of Cambridge). 3. Agriculture, Pastoralism, and Mediterranean Landscapes in Prehistory: Graeme Barker (University of Cambridge). 4. Changing Social Relations in the Mediterranean Copper and Bronze Ages: Robert Chapman (University of Reading). 5. The Material Expression of Cult, Ritual, and Feasting: Emma Blake (University of Michigan). 6. The Gendered Sea: Iconography, Gender, and Mediterranean Prehistory: Lauren E. Talalay (University of Michigan). 7. The Genesis of Monuments among the Mediterranean Islands: Michael J. Kolb (Northern Illinois University). 8. Lithic Technologies and Use: Evagelia Karimali (Institute for Mediterranean Studies, Hellas, Greece). 9. Archaeometallurgy in the Mediterranean: The Social Context of Mining, Technology, and Trade: Vasiliki Kassianidou and A. Bernard Knapp (University of Cyprus; University of Glasgow). 10. Settlement in the Prehistoric Mediterranean: Luke Sollars (University of Glasgow). 11. Maritime Commerce and Geographies of Mobility in the Late Bronze Age of the Eastern Mediterranean: Problematizations: Sturt W. Manning and Linda Hulin (University of Toronto; University of Reading). 12. Museum Archaeology and the Mediterranean Cultural Heritage: Robin Skeates (University of Durham). Index

Emma Blake is Visiting Assistant Professor in Classical Studies, University of Michigan. Her articles have appeared in World Archaeology, the Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology , the European Journal of Archaeology , and the American Journal of Archaeology . A. Bernard Knapp is Professor of Mediterranean Archaeology in the Department of Archaeology, University of Glasgow. He co–edits the Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology (with John F. Cherry) and is co–editor of Archaeologies of Landscape (with Wendy Ashmore, Blackwell 1999).

“This remarkable book does precisely what its title suggests: it provides an account of the archaeology of Mediterranean prehistory that treats the Mediterranean as a single unit. A galaxy of prominent prehistorians traces themes and topics from the Levant to Spain, enabling the reader to acquire a sense of the shape of prehistory across the whole of this extraordinary space.” Robin Osborne, University of Cambridge “Blake and Knapp’s volume demonstrates that new approaches to the Mediterranean, taking as central concerns the nature of culture and cultural heritage, are breathing new life into studies of that region.” Chris Gosden, University of Oxford