Of Chiefs, Princesses and Warriors: Exploring Different Iron Ages

Peter van Dommelen

This course explores the Iron Age communities of the West Mediterranean, as the first cities of the region came into being, and ‘warriors’ and ‘princesses’ ruled in sumptuous palaces and were buried amidst fabulous wealth.

This course is about the Mediterranean Iron Age. It examines indigenous communities of the first millennium BC in order to assess critically conventional and often stereotypical representations of Iron Age societies. Themes to be explored include the ever increasing social complexity of chiefdoms and states, princely and ‘princessly’ burials and warriors, and urban settlements and monumental architecture that allegedly mark the transfer of 'civilization' from East to West.

The indigenous communities of the West Mediterranean Iron Age (the first millennium BC) are typically viewed in terms of a series of stereotypes. This course will critically assess such conventional representations of different Iron Age societies by exploring the region's ever-increasing social complexity. We will do so by examining in detail the rise of princely burials and warrior groups, and the appearance of the urban settlements and monumental architecture that allegedly mark the transfer of 'civilization' from East to West.The emphasis is on the western basin of the Mediterranean but significant sites and contexts from elsewhere will also be brought in for comparison.

Practical information

ARCH 0415
MWF, 11.00-11.50 in Rhode Island Hall, 108
Instructor: Peter van Dommelen
Teaching Assistant: Julia Hurley

ARCH0415 Fall17 S01 Of Chiefs, Princesses and Warriors: Exploring Different Iron Ages