Reconstruction of interrelationship of the rite of passage and social complexity of ancient Asia.

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24720354
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Archaeology
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: FUNAHASHI Kyoko (石川京子) 九州大学, 総合研究博物館, 助教 (80617879)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 古人骨 / 通過儀礼 / 葬送行為 / 抜歯風習 / 親族関係 / 社会変容

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to reconstruct the interrelationship between ritual and social complexity of ancient Asia, specifically peripheral area around the ancient states, in terms of osteo-archaeological perspective.Two methods were adopted for the reconstruction of ritual and social spheres.Kinship, one crucial aspect of society to estimate social complexity, was reconstructed by using tooth crown measurement analysis. The rite of passage was also reconstructed by osteo-archaeological analysis of ritual tooth ablation and mortuary practice.
The results reconfirmed previous outcomes that the transformation of kinship had time lag in peripheral area from ancient state. And integration of the dynamics of social and ritual aspects in peripheral area revealed that the rite of passage was co-transformed with the kinship during the formation process of state afterward tribal social complexity.

Free Research Field

人骨考古学