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Exploring patterns of prehistoric kinship from socio-cultural anthropological perspectives

Project description

A comprehensive understanding of prehistoric kinship practices

Unlocking the mysteries of prehistoric kinship has long been confined to the narrow lens of genetic proximity within archaeogenetics. However, kinship, from a socio-cultural anthropological perspective, transcends mere biology, entwining itself with performative and imaginative facets of social relations. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the X-KIN project aims to shed light on the intricate tapestry of prehistoric kinship by harmonising biological markers and material structures within a common analytical framework. By aligning ethnographic reports with archaeological data, the project will focus on deciphering material structures such as settlements, buildings, artefacts, and biological markers as ‘material codes’ of prehistoric kinship. X-KIN spans four research sites in southeastern Europe and Anatolia, including Çatalhöyük, Lepenski Vir, Arslantepe, and Vučedol.

Objective

Research context
During the past decade, the “ancient DNA revolution” has reopened key questions about prehistoric kinship that within archaeogenetics is narrowly viewed as genetic proximity. From a socio-cultural anthropological perspective, however, kinship is not only a biological but also a performative and imaginary principle for structuring and maintaining social relations. Frequently, it is not blood but houses that play a crucial role in forming kinship relations. Therefore, a unified study of dwelling spaces and biological markers of kinship is crucial to understanding kinship in prehistory.

Research questions
• How can the material structures such as settlements, buildings, artifacts, and biological markers be read as ‘material codes’ of prehistoric kinship?
• How can ethnographic reports exemplify rather than verify variability in kinship during prehistory?

Research sites
Four research sites in southeastern Europe and Anatolia have been selected: Çatalhöyük, Lepenski Vir, Arslantepe, and Vučedol.

Methods
KINSCA will align ethnographic reports with archaeological data to further contextualize houses and settlements as well as biological signatures of individuals to illuminate prehistoric kinship practices. This will be achieved through triangulation of analytical methods By employing archaeology of kinship approaches based on cross-cultural anthropological insights, controlled comparison between ethnographic and archaeological material, and regional comparison between archaeological sites.

Innovation
Several archaeologists have voiced the need for archaeologists to move beyond understanding kinship through biogenetic links but as a social practice instead – joining well-known insight from earlier socio-cultural anthropology. For the first time, kinship in prehistory will be addressed from an interdisciplinary perspective, including socio-cultural anthropology, bioarchaeology, and prehistoric archaeology, within a common analytical framework.

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01

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Coordinator

OESTERREICHISCHE AKADEMIE DER WISSENSCHAFTEN
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 294 284,64
Address
DR. IGNAZ SEIPEL-PLATZ 2
1010 Wien
Austria

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Region
Ostösterreich Wien Wien
Activity type
Research Organisations
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Total cost

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