41st Annual Chacmool Conference
November 7 – 11, 2008 - The University of Calgary
Symposium Abstract Proposal
Organizer: Kent D. Bromley & Cynthia S. Kwok
Chair: Cynthia S. Kwok
“The Urban Peasant”
Diet as an Indicator of Status in Ancient Populations
Differential access to certain foods or food elements has long been
accepted by archaeologists as indicative of status and/or power in past
societies. The analysis of dietary patterns employs a variety of
techniques, such as faunal analysis, paleoethnobotany and human osteology.
This session will explore how these various analytical methods have been
used and advanced in order to identify sociopolitical power structures in
past populations. Papers dealing with current fieldwork or re-evaluations
of past research are encouraged.
Papers may focus on, but are not limited to:
• How faunal remains can demonstrate dietary and status differences.
• How paleobotanical evidence can inform us about power structures.
• How human skeletal remains can inform us about power relationships within
groups.
• The use of instrumental techniques to determine the diet of past populations.
|