Module 9- Monuments Flashcards
Monumentality
A construction built larger than “necessary” (in the minds of archaeologists) for its function within society
Conspicuous consumption
Spending or otherwise using resources without regard to availability; often a sign of social power
Time perspectivism
The consideration of a monument on two distinct time scales simultaneously – the time needed for construction and the long-term presence of the monument
Scale
in this case refers to the observational scale changing relative to the time scale
Utilitarian versus non-utilitarian
Everyday use versus non-everyday use (or functional versus non-functional)
Formal leadership
Social system where a particular person is considered the leader at all times
Circular argument
An attempt at reasoning where A is dependent on B and B is dependent on A; results in poor arguments that lack reasoning
Energetic baseline
Comparison of the number of person-days required for construction; estimates at best, but provides a universal means for comparison
Built environment
Environment that is constructed by human activity; can be small scale (local) or large scale (regional)
Local built environment
Small-scale environment constructed or modified by human activity (village, city, etc.)
Regional built environments
Large-scale environment constructed or modified by human activity (road systems, Great Wall of China, etc.)
Agriculture and monumental construction
Long presumed (based on data available) by archaeologists that food production necessarily preceded monumental construction, as it would be necessary to feed the construction workers
Abandonment
When humans cease to use a once occupied space
Importance of open spaces
Open spaces between monumental constructions believed to have been used to gather crowds; monuments may have functioned to constrain crowds
Göbekli Tepe
Pre-agriculture monumental site, currently argued to be ritual in nature, in Anatolia (modern Turkey)
Domestic buildings
structures used for housing, household activities
Non-domestic buildings
Structures not used for housing, household activities
Public architecture
Structures believed to have functioned as something other than someone’s home (even a palace is essentially a home); note: term “public” does not necessarily imply that all members of a society had access to these structures
T-shaped pillars
Freestanding stone pilars at Göbekli Tepe; many, but not all, are decorated with carvings
Bas-relief / low relief carvings
Carvings that are only a few centimeters deep (rather than carved in the round); two terms for the same thing
Zoomorphic carvings
Carvings that depict animals, whether real or mythical
Anthropomorphic carvings
Carvings in the human form
Legitimacy
Way of enforcing access to social power
Stonehenge
Ritual site in SW England
Traditional construction sequence of Stonehenge
Long-standing argument that Stonehenge initially lacked any stone in construction, followed by Bluestones, followed by sarsen construction and re-arrangements of sarsen and Bluestones.
Bluestones
Early construction element at Stonehenge, imported from Wales; may have originally been used in a monument in Wales
Sarsen stones
Later construction element at Stonehenge; much more local than Bluestones, although most brought in from a distance of 20-25 km
Trilithons
Three-stone structures at Stonehenge
Waun Mawn
Early Henge site Wales that may be the origin point of the Stonehenge Bluestones
Bluestonehenge
Recently discovered Henge monument near Stonehenge, constructed of Bluestones
Garbage Project
Research project into modern refuse, including both roadside collections and excavating landfills
What we say versus what we do.
Early observation made by Garbage Project – people often respond to interview questions with the answer they think the interviewer wants to hear rather than the factual truth
Lean Cuisine syndrome
Attempt to demonstrate a healthy lifestyle or diet by buying “healthy” items (which may or may not be consumed)
Over-reporting vs. under-reporting
When self-reporting food use, people tend to “over-report” (over-estimate, often substantially) items considered healthy and “under-report” (under-estimate, often substantially) items considered unhealthy
Good Provider syndrome
Name given to people who attempt to impress others with their ability to purchase large amounts of healthy (and other) food for their household, often to the point of excess
Household hazardous waste
Day-to-day items found around the home that are extremely hazardous; nail polish is the most highly toxic item found in most homes
Biodegradation
The natural breaking down of biological items after death or after discard
Landfill
Modern areas used to contain enormous amounts of refuse; oddly enough, these are forms of monumental architecture
Public perceptions of landfill contents
Uninformed opinions about the primary contents of modern landfills, grossly over-estimating the frequencies of plastic, Styrofoam, and disposable diapers
5 myths of North American garbage
Common misconceptions about what is in landfills, what occurs in landfills (biodegradation), the lack of space anywhere for additional landfills, and the idea that people produce (per capita) more garbage than ever before
Cosmetic use during WWII
Cosmetic use was encouraged and expected of women both in the military and outside of it
Recruiting tools
Gifts of cosmetics often used as a means of recruiting women into the military or nursing
Propaganda
A means of persuading people into thinking a particular way; most commonly used by governments
WWII Geoglyphs
Recently discovered WWII-era bomb targets – including replicas of full-sized battleships – in the desert southwestern US
Material culture as social information
Everyday items, including clothing, convey social information to everyone who sees you
Clothing and social information
What people choose to wear passes along important information about how a person views themselves, social connections they possess or wish to appear to possess, etc.
Controlled conformity
A means of for a power structure (such as an employer) to maintain social control by forcing conformity of appearance – such as requiring all male employees to wear a tie or all employees to keep tattoos and similar markings covered
Emulation
An attempt to project the same level of social power and distinction as the elite class by attempting to “copy” what they do, wear, carry, etc.
Identity creation
Using material goods to give off the appearance of a desired social persona, whether real or imagined
Group identification
Claiming connection with a particular social group, regardless of actual acceptance of that group
Casual Friday
Common tactic in office settings where employees are “permitted” to break with conformity one day a week – by conforming in a different way
Impermanence of symbolic meaning
