The Gendered House

Abstract

This paper discusses how gender was reproduced at Sorgenti della Nova, a Final Bronze Age settlement in west-central Italy. The paper examines structural features and finds from a domestic assemblage comprising a large elliptical dwelling (House 2) and surrounding buildings, which lay on one of the artificially carved terraces that made up the prehistoric village. Structural and spatial analysis yielded meaningful insights into the organization of domestic life at this site. It is argued in particular that House 2 was divided into three activity areas, and that essential tasks for the physical and social reproduction of the household were carried out in the space outside the house. Examination of the small finds has allowed identification of several engendered practices, including spinning/weaving and domestic rituals. Based on these findings, it is argued that gender was not performed in isolation, but was inseparably intertwined with other facets of social identity including age, status and kin. The study concludes that not only gender but also an entire idea of society was constructed in the house through the daily performance of meaningful domestic practices.

Establishing the Middle Sea: The Late Bronze Age of Mediterranean Europe (1700–900 BC)

“…At Sorgenti della Nova (Farnese, VT), which occupies a tufa plateau of about 15 ha, the settlement layout was extremely densely arranged into artificial terraces, each possibly corresponding to a household or family plot. These included wooden huts and small rock-cut cavities intended for various quotidian activities and cultic practices (Dolfini 2013;Negroni Catacchio and Domanico 2001). In other settlements, signs of competition for territorial control are associated with evidence of collective rituals.…”

Threads that bind the establishement. Housing eneolithic textile craft (Niti koje vežu elitu. Lociranje eneolitičkih tekstilnih zanata)

“…Specijalizacija i složenost društva U kontekstu proizvodnje tekstila, majstorstvo je neraskidivo povezano s nekoliko aspekata društvenog identiteta koji se ne odnose samo na status, već i na rod, dob i srodstvo (Dolfini 2013). Ipak, pri proučavanju nestratificiranih društava potrebno je prihvatiti pretpostavku da specijalizacija zanata nije nužno bila vezana uz složenost društvene strukture.…”

“…In the context of textile production craftmenship is inseparably intertwined with several facets of social identity besides status, including gender, age and kin (Dolfini 2013). Whereas, the presumption that craft specialization is not necessarily related to the developed social complexity needs to be addressed for the study of non-stratified societies.…”