Understanding Socio-Economic Complexity in Eastern Mediterranean Protohistory: Dynamics of Production, Technology and Territorial Networks on Cyprus during the 2nd Millennium BCE
In the dynamic and highly interconnected world of the 2nd millennium BCE Mediterranean and Near East, Cyprus played a key role as a trade hub and trans-shipment centre due to its strategic location in the centre of the Eastern Mediterranean. In this period, Cyprus was the main supplier of the much-coveted copper which functioned as a major catalyst for long-distance trade involving virtually all regions from Sardinia to the west to Mesopotamia to the east. In addition to copper, pottery is the main indicator of economic and cultural connectivity, which can be illustrated by the ubiquity and popularity of Cypriot produced ceramics in all these regions. Hence, it is often described as the first international period in the Mediterranean world in which Cyprus was an active player.
At the beginning of the Late Cypriot period (c. 1650/1630 BCE) we see increasing economic complexity and social stratification, whereas the outgoing Late Bronze Age, starting around 1200 BCE is characterised by political and social unrest and transformation in various aspects of the material culture. Hence, focusing on 2nd millennium Cyprus will enable us to gain a broader understanding of processes of socio-economic development and increasing complexity, as well as transformation and crisis in pre- and protohistory, which may also be applied to other periods, geographic areas and cultures.
While numerous economic aspects, primarily in connection with copper and long-distance trade have been intensively discussed during the last decades, we still lack a basic perception of the political and social structure of this island which functioned as the main trade centre in this period. Also missing is a more detailed insight into the production of commodities other than copper, for instance, pottery and agricultural goods. Cyprus strikingly differs from the surrounding regions by (so far) the absence of palaces and the scarcity of evidence of any central administration, which makes the project a particularly intriguing and important case study, especially considering Cyprus’ considerable economic impact on other cultures.
The objective of the project is therefore a bottom-up approach towards a broader understanding of the dynamics and developments of socio-economic complexity. The main aims of the project are threefold:
- to explore the economic basis of the island beyond copper production
- to trace the mechanisms of production, distribution and consumption
- to find out, how and to what extent different communities on the island interacted with each other and with other Eastern Mediterranean regions.
For this bottom-up approach, four major research topics have been chosen: pottery production, animal management strategies, plant exploitation and distribution and consumption of these products. These topics will be merged into a comprehensive picture by using primarily network analysis and landscape approaches, as well as by evaluating additional material evidence and results from ongoing excavations and scientific studies, such as copper mining and metalworking, human mobility and climate change.
Data from old excavations will be integrated and re-examined by using the most recent results from current excavations as a standard. Cutting edge methods include chemical (NAA), petrographic, and computational (3D and CT scanning, x-radiography) studies of pottery production and technology, as well as stable isotope analyses of animal and plant remains to investigate the provenance and possible mobility of the livestock and to identify crop cultivation areas. 14C analyses will be carried out to obtain a reliable radiocarbon-based absolute chronological contextualisation. Chemical analyses of organic residues in pottery will reveal ancient food practices and consumption patterns.
This highly interdisciplinary project will generate an extensive narrative of socio-economic dynamics in the Bronze Age. In addition, the project’s multi-faceted approaches will lead to an enhanced understanding of one of the most innovative periods in human history.
Principal Investigator
Dr. Teresa Bürge
Funding
SNSF Starting Grant (project no. 218052), 2024-2029
