Social Complexity and Identity
Rubric and assignment attached too.
Social Complexity and Identity
Background: Archaeologists study social complexity to understand the differences between and changes within societies across space and time. Identifying social complexity involves taking into account many factors. In archaeology, these factors manifest themselves in certain material remains within the archaeological record. Just like any material remains, remains of complexity are subject to formation processes (see p. 36 in our textbook to review what this term means), making some factors easier to identify than others. The material remains of complexity help us to determine the degree to which societies are structured, how societies create and reify identities, and how inequalities played a role in these structures.
Forager (hunter-gatherer) societies tend to be on the low end of the spectrum of complexity. That is, they exhibit few of the following factors of complexity. State-level societies such as ours are on the high end of the spectrum of complexity, exhibiting manyif not allof the factors of complexity, including:
A large population wherein many people coexist and interact frequently.
Inequality among segments of the population, with social stratification.
Economic specialization and subsistence dependence on others with delayed returns.
Regulation through customs and laws to govern behavior, interactions, and exchange.
Hierarchical ruling structure for administration and maintenance of order.
Agricultural intensification to provide surplus to support non-food-producing groups.
Interactions beyond the local community including trade and exchange.
Institutionalized ideology, rituals, and artistic expression representing the community.
Prominent monuments representing the community and/or those in power.
Instructions: In this activity you will identify factors of social complexity as seen on our own campus and in your own cities/towns. These factors can be found in many places and may leave different material remains depending on the activities associated with each factor. Thinking about your own society or community (the SMU campus, the city you live in, the etc.), identify a material object that is physical evidence for five of the above-mentioned factors of social complexity. Describe each of these physical objectsWhat are they? Where are they? What are they made out of, and how long are they likely to exist in the archaeological record?
Prepare an essay that presents these objects, how/why they represent evidence for social complexity, and how these might look to a future archaeologist after the passage of 5000 yearsa relatively short span of time in the human past. What will still remain of it, and will it still be possible to discern how it represents a factor of social complexity? Think about how formation processes may affect the physical appearance and integrity of the object over the course of 5000 years. (Hint: Consider the kinds of artifacts that are discussed in class and in the textbook. What kinds of materials appear to be common on archaeological sites, and what kinds of materials are rare or nonexistent?) Based on the items that you chose from campus, and your reasoning about how they would survive in the future, what kinds of information could archaeologists reasonably conclude about social complexity on our campus?
Specifications: Your essay should be no less than 3 and no more than 5 pages, double spaced, with 1-inch margins, and set in 12-point font. A references-cited page is not necessary, but be sure to include an in-text reference to any information that you obtain elsewhere. Make sure to include your name, student number, and class/year at the top of the first page, and that there are page numbers at the bottom of each page. Your essay should have a clear structure with an introduction, background, analyses, discussion, and conclusion. Begin your essay with a clearly written thesis statement. You should avoid bullet points, poor grammar and informal language, vague/non-specific statements, and plagiarism (either intentional or unintentional).
