Archaeological Approaches to Market Exchange in Ancient Societies

Abstract

Ancient market activities are dynamic in the economies of most ancient states, yet they have received little research from the archaeological community. This is the first book to address the development, change, and organisational complexity of ancient markets from a comparative archaeological perspective. Drawing from historical documents and archaeological records from Mesoamerica, the U.S. Southwest, East Africa, and the Andes, this volume reveals the complexity of ancient marketplace development and economic behaviour both in hierarchical and non-hierarchical societies. Highlighting four principal themes -- the defining characteristics of market exchange; the recognition of market exchange archaeologically; the relationship among market, political, and other social institutions; and the conditions in which market systems develop and change -- the book contains a strong methodological and theoretical focus on market exchange. Diverse contributions from noted scholars show the history of market exchange and other activities to be more dynamic than scholars previously appreciated. This book will be of interest to archaeologists, anthropologists, material-culture theorists, economists, and historians.

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