Goddesses, priestesses or corvée workers? About Gendered Labour Division in Prehistory (with references to Bronze Age Greece)

elective courses

This course will provide a basic introduction to gender archaeology and, more specifically, gendered labour division, illustrated by several references to the Bronze Age Aegean. The participants will be given an overview of the trends that have characterised gender perception in archaeology. The main focus of this course is to demonstrate how the concept of gender and gender roles have changed during the last 100 years of archaeological investigations, and how to apply a gendered perspective to studies of material culture.

This course will provide a basic introduction to gender archaeology and, more specifically, gendered labour division, illustrated by several references to the Bronze Age Aegean. The participants will be given an overview of the trends that have characterised gender perception in archaeology. The main focus of this course is to demonstrate how the concept of gender and gender roles have changed during the last 100 years of archaeological investigations, and how to apply a gendered perspective to studies of material culture. Therefore, this course will cover past and present methodological frameworks for gender studies.

We will start with the concept of the ‘Mother Goddess’ and its successful implementation into Aegean archaeology, we will discuss an impact of gender studies on archaeological theories and practice, as well as the conceptual shift in recognising gender role of females from goddesses, mothers and priestesses, to women seen as a critical working force with substantial organisational and management skills. Finally, we will also discuss modern reception and new religious phenomena inspired by the concept of the ‘Great Mother Goddess’.

Bachofen J. J. 1861. Das Mutterrecht. Eine Untersuchung über die Gynaikokratie der alten Welt nach ihrer religiösen und rechtlichen Natur, Stuttgart.

Fleming A. 1969. The Myth of Mother Goddess, World Archaeology 1:2, 2347–241.

Gimbutas M. 1991. The Civilization of the Goddess: The World of Old Europe, San Francisco.

Hitchcock L., Nikolaidou M. 2013. Gender in Greek and Aegean Prehistory. In D. Bolger ed., A Companion to Gender Prehistory, Chichester.

Koch, J.K., Kileis W. eds 2019. Gender Transformations in Prehistoric and Archaic Societies, Leiden.

Kopaka K. ed. 2009. FYLO. Engendering Prehistoric Stratigraphies in the Aegean and the Mediterranean, Aegaeum 30, Liège and Austin.

Meskell L. 1995. Goddesses, Gimbutas and ‘New Age’ Archaeology, Antiquity 69: 262, 74–86.

Olsen B.A. 2014. Women in Mycenaean Greece. The Linear B Tablets from Pylos and Knossos, London.

P8S_WG – participants will complete their knowledge of gender studies in archaeology, and develop their abilities to critically review the discussed theoretical approaches and methods.

P8S_UW – they will develop skills in the proper application of existing theoretical approaches to specific archaeological evidence or a specific part of past material culture.

P8S_UK – they will master participation in/initiation of academic debates.

P8S_KK – they will be prepared to criticise current theoretical trends in archaeology and discuss the limitations of existing theories when applied to investigating specific archaeological evidence.

Participation in the course is obligatory. Prospective participants are expected to take an active part in discussions enhanced during the course.