Bread making and social interactions at the Amarna Workmen's village, Egypt
- 1 June 1999
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in World Archaeology
- Vol. 31 (1) , 121-144
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00438243.1999.9980435
Abstract
This paper explores the use of food as an indicator of ancient social relations amongst households, using bread preparation in ancient Egypt as a case study. Technological information on bread making gained through a multi‐stranded archaeological approach is applied to an investigation of the Amarna Workmen's village, a short‐lived Pharaonic settlement dating to about 1350 BC. The analysis demonstrates that once supplied with raw ingredients the village households were largely self‐sufficient, but that specific households co‐operated in the production of bread. This case study is first set into context with a discussion of the issues and problems associated with the archaeology of food. A structure is suggested to help approach this complex subject.Keywords
This publication has 21 references indexed in Scilit:
- ARCHAEOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO THE ORGANIZATION OF DOMESTIC LABOR: Household Practice and Domestic RelationsAnnual Review of Anthropology, 1996
- The Simulation of Artifact Diversity at el-Amarna, EgyptJournal of Field Archaeology, 1995
- Ancient Egyptian Cereal Processing: Beyond the Artistic RecordCambridge Archaeological Journal, 1993
- Agricultural Activity by the Workmen of Deir el-MedinaThe Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 1992
- Women as gatekeepers of food consumption: A sociological critiqueFood and Foodways, 1989
- The Amarna Workmen's Village in RetrospectThe Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 1987
- Status Symbols in the Architecture of El-'AmarnaThe Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 1985
- Anthropological Perspectives on DietAnnual Review of Anthropology, 1984
- Bread as World: Food Habits and Social Relations in Modernizing SardiniaAnthropological Quarterly, 1984
- Preliminary Report on the El-'Amarna Expedition, 1981-2The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 1983