Detailed Information on Publication Record
2017
Iron Age and Early Medieval Centres - Advantages and Pitfalls of a Comparative Approach
DRESLER, Petr, Alžběta DANIELISOVÁ and Jan MAŘÍKBasic information
Original name
Iron Age and Early Medieval Centres - Advantages and Pitfalls of a Comparative Approach
Name in Czech
Centra doby železné a raného středověku - Výhody a úskalí komparativního přístupu
Name (in English)
Iron Age and Early Medieval Centres - Advantages and Pitfalls of a Comparative Approach
Authors
DRESLER, Petr, Alžběta DANIELISOVÁ and Jan MAŘÍK
Edition
Building Bridges - Abstract book of the 23rd Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists 2017, 2017
Other information
Language
Czech
Type of outcome
Konferenční abstrakt
Field of Study
Archaeology, anthropology, ethnology
Country of publisher
Czech Republic
Confidentiality degree
není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství
Organization unit
Faculty of Arts
Keywords (in Czech)
doba železná; latén; raný středověk; centra
Keywords in English
Iron Age; La Téne; Early medieval; centres
Tags
Tags
International impact
Změněno: 3/2/2018 21:17, Mgr. Petr Dresler, Ph.D.
V originále
In this paper we attempt to explore development, role and function of the central places in the Iron Age and Early Medieval periods approaching this issue from different perspectives in order to test their comparative potential. Earlier approaches to protohistoric and early historic urbanisation phenomena implied distinct criteria to test whether the status of a settlement could be viewed as “urban”. These criteria were either present or absent and within this binary framework the “urbanisation level” of a given site was evaluated. In reaction to these rather static models that neglected the effect of dynamics of urbanisation as well as their “non-urban” counterparts, the research cluster of the DAI developed an urbanisation-model with criteria that included “objectified and quantifiable values” (cf. Wendling 2013) such as: continuity and sustainability of settlement activities; the degree of social interaction and political communication; topographical and structural proximity of the built environment; functional and structural diversity of building structures; and concentration and diversity of crafts, trade, and services. Using DAI concept as a basis, we slightly expanded the criteria and formulated weighted empirical model that was subsequently applied to selected Iron Age and Early Medieval “centres”. With help of several case studies we intend to demonstrate that strength of a comparative approach lies especially in revealing the major development trends or principles of a long-durée nature (such as basic economic systems), while the risks of misinterpretation are associated chiefly with limited knowledge of social hierarchy, political strategies and cultural norms.
In English
In this paper we attempt to explore development, role and function of the central places in the Iron Age and Early Medieval periods approaching this issue from different perspectives in order to test their comparative potential. Earlier approaches to protohistoric and early historic urbanisation phenomena implied distinct criteria to test whether the status of a settlement could be viewed as “urban”. These criteria were either present or absent and within this binary framework the “urbanisation level” of a given site was evaluated. In reaction to these rather static models that neglected the effect of dynamics of urbanisation as well as their “non-urban” counterparts, the research cluster of the DAI developed an urbanisation-model with criteria that included “objectified and quantifiable values” (cf. Wendling 2013) such as: continuity and sustainability of settlement activities; the degree of social interaction and political communication; topographical and structural proximity of the built environment; functional and structural diversity of building structures; and concentration and diversity of crafts, trade, and services. Using DAI concept as a basis, we slightly expanded the criteria and formulated weighted empirical model that was subsequently applied to selected Iron Age and Early Medieval “centres”. With help of several case studies we intend to demonstrate that strength of a comparative approach lies especially in revealing the major development trends or principles of a long-durée nature (such as basic economic systems), while the risks of misinterpretation are associated chiefly with limited knowledge of social hierarchy, political strategies and cultural norms.
Links
| GA16-15678S, research and development project |
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