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COMMUNAL TRADITION AND THE NATURE OF SOCIAL INEQUALITY AMONG THE PREHISPANIC HOUSEHOLDS OF EL HATILLO (HE-4), PANAMA

Locascio, William A. (2010) COMMUNAL TRADITION AND THE NATURE OF SOCIAL INEQUALITY AMONG THE PREHISPANIC HOUSEHOLDS OF EL HATILLO (HE-4), PANAMA. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Prehispanic chiefdoms of Central Panama provide interesting cases for investigating whysocieties first began to organize themselves hierarchically and why members began to relate toone-another in ways that emphasized the relative status of each. The particular activities throughwhich a small number of individuals elevated their social status above the majority of apopulation, gaining influence over them, and the broader social circumstances that permitted thistransformation are critical to understanding processes that lead to the emergence of socialinequality. This dissertation presents data from archaeological excavations of households at thevillage of El Hatillo/He-4 -the principal political center of a prehispanic chiefdom that existed in the Río Parita Valley of Central Panama between about A.D 700 and A.D. 1522. These data and the patterns they reveal provide a basis for comparison of domestic activities and contexts across time within El Hatillo/He-4. Identifying differences in households (observed synchronically and diachronically), like the organization of space and activities that were undertaken within, is among the best ways to understand why certain groups were socially more important and influential than others. The Río Parita chiefdom, like most, also consisted of multiple villages socially unified under an elite leader, or chief, forming a more-or-less cohesive political unit, or chiefdom. Thus, principles of social organization and bases of authority extended beyond relationships among households at El Hatillo/He-4 to also include larger communities and outlying villages. Since household data do not permit us to understand interactions among groups across the village, let alone other villages in the polity, as clearly, the data presented in this dissertation.


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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Locascio, William A.wal5@pitt.eduWAL5
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairDrennan, Robert Ddrennan@pitt.eduDRENNAN
Committee MemberBermann, Marcbermarc@pitt.eduBERMARC
Committee MemberHaller, Mikaelmikaelhaller@yahoo,com
Committee MemberDe Montmollin, Olivierolly@pitt.eduOLLY
Date: 30 September 2010
Date Type: Completion
Defense Date: 4 May 2010
Approval Date: 30 September 2010
Submission Date: 2 August 2010
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > Anthropology
Degree: PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
Thesis Type: Doctoral Dissertation
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: communal feasting; El Hatillo/He-4; Multiscalar archaeology; Panama archaeology; household archaeology; social inequality
Other ID: http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-08022010-182903/, etd-08022010-182903
Date Deposited: 10 Nov 2011 19:56
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2016 13:47
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/8837

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