Visual culture in Neolithic South East Italy

Skeates, R.G.

Abstract

This paper examines transformations in the form and significance of visual material in Neolithic Apulia. It is argued that ‘portable art’ was increasingly valued as ritual paraphernalia, gifts and status symbols, which were circulated, accumulated, displayed and sacrificed in growing quantities. It is also argued that ‘installation art’ became increasingly important, particularly in linking key places to particular groups and their ancestors. Some long-term symbolic ‘themes’ are also identified. One may have referred to concerns about the definition of social identities and relations, while another may have referred to concerns over the demarcation, control and sharing of the landscape and its economic resources.

Citation

Skeates, R. (2005). Visual culture in Neolithic South East Italy. In P. Attema, A. Nijboer, & A. Zifferero (Eds.), Papers in Italian archaeology VI : communities and settlements from the neolithic to the early medieval period (541-544). Archaeopress

• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2005
• Deposit Date: May 10, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: May 12, 2016
• Publisher: Archaeopress
• Pages: 541-544
• Series Title: BAR international series
• Series Number: 2
• Book Title: Papers in Italian archaeology VI : communities and settlements from the neolithic to the early medieval period.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1670476
• Publisher URL: http://www.barpublishing.com/papers-in-italian-archaeology-vi-communities-and-settlements-from-the-neolithic-to-the-early-medieval-period.html