An Introduction to the Concept of Specialization in Archeological Studies
Subject Areas : Prehistoric Archaeology
1 - Assistant Professor, Department of Archaeology, Islamic Azad University, Abhar Branch, Abhar, Iran.
Keywords: standardization, style, Specialization, Production Organization, Cultural Complexity,
Abstract :
Studying technological and economical specialization in the prehistoric societies, as well as the way of understanding the same specialization, their measurements and Scales from the remaining evidences have faced a large number of difficulties. The term 'specialization' as a significant subject along with the economy of the prehistoric societies has long been regarded by anthropologists and archaeologists. The definition of the term, its origins, and the archaeological interpretation of this form of production organization has always been focused since 1960s. Archaeological researchers might lose the track in their interpretations of data without having clear standards for recognizing specialization lacking a lucid understanding of the term. Archaeologists delineate the origins of specialization using three models: 1. Commercial development model, 2. Adaptive model, 3. Political model. The given models indicate different approaches to the concept of studying specialization in archaeology. Such approaches are connected to the cultural, social, and economical evolution in prehistoric societies. In this paper, the concept and facets of craft specialization, production organization, standardization, styles, labor investment, the standards and methods of specialization have been concentrated.
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