Questions concerning the basis of power and processes which lead to social stratification have occupied anthropological research for decades, resulting in a number of competing schools of thought. This research examines two of these; factional competition and managerial models for the rise of social complexity. Factional competition models propose that individuals are in a constant state of competition for power and leadership positions and use a variety of arenas and methods by which to compete. Managerial models on the other hand suggest individuals are given power by the populace in exchange for managing subsistence goods and production for the overall benefit of the society.
These models are evaluated in light of evidence from the Predynastic period cultures of Upper Egypt, where scholars have suggested that each of these models reflect the processes which led to the formation of the centralized Egyptian state. Data for this study was obtained through a program of systematic surface collections and new, large-scale excavations at the Predynastic settlement site of el-Mahâsna. Patterns of artifacts and activity areas revealed through these efforts are evaluated against implications for intrasite patterning derived from managerial and factional competition models specifically proposed for the Nile Valley.
Results of this study suggest that elites during the later Naqada I and early-mid Naqada II periods were not heavily involved in the management of subsistence goods, nor do they appear to have been competing through large scale feasting or the production of luxury goods for use in the funerary industry, as suggested. Further, results from this study suggest that competition for power in the Nile Valley may already have progressed beyond the level of individual communities, and may have been taking place at a regional level between established leaders by the mid-Naqada I. Finally, the data from el-Mahâsna reveals a pattern of elite activities focused upon ritual and ceremony associated with a possible early cult structure.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PITT/oai:PITTETD:etd-08172006-145240 |
| Date | 06 October 2006 |
| Creators | Anderson, David Allen |
| Contributors | Richard Scaglion, Robert D. Drennan, James B. Richarson, III, Kathryn Linduff |
| Publisher | University of Pittsburgh |
| Source Sets | University of Pittsburgh |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-08172006-145240/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Pittsburgh or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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