Metal artifacts in Southeast Asia challenge long-held archaeological theory

Re:Metal artifacts in Southeast Asia challenge long-held arc... by pkdpic_y9k on Sunday August 08, 2021 @11:12AM (#28107298)

> archaeologists of a traditional bent tend to have a particular thought structure called essentialism, which means that they do everything they can to come up with a coherent story according to a progressive view of social change. They keep looking for and exaggerate specific evidence to fit that progressive model. Southeast Asia is different. It offers an outstanding example of bottom-up social change, of community-level decision making. It’s a chance to study prehistoric societies in a more granular way, and it’s a fundamental shift for archaeologists. We’re still early on in trying to promote this different point of view and in using metals as a vehicle to gain this perspective.

Summary seems to be that testing the metals of different regions showed evidence of community trading not facilitated by ruling elites?

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Re:Metal artifacts in Southeast Asia challenge long-held arc... by evv555 on Sunday August 08, 2021 @12:13PM (#28107750)

>we can contribute to a larger discussion of how we all live in this world going forward, to have a more successful existence on this Earth, by studying ancient societies like those in prehistoric Thailand that were enduring, resilient, and peaceful.

Counterpoint to the quote: There's also an idealistic bent in archeology/humanities where they do everything they can to build a narrative of a Matriarchal Eden in the past. The evidence is spotty at best and evidence like this are exceptions that highlight norm.

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