The social lives of forts: Reconsidering the social construction of ancient fortified settlements and their diverse roles in political organization

In the past, populations often shifted their settlements to more defensive patterns, settling in nucleated, fortified villages and towns, or in the shadow of hilltop redoubts. The monumental scale and/or strategic position of fortified constructions have historically led to a limited view of fortresses as engines of war. In this session, we look beyond the walls to consider the underlying social, political, and ritual dynamics that are entailed by phases of defensive settlement. What were the sociopolitical ramifications of living in fortified communities? How did the diverse economic, territorial, and political stakes of conflict shape these communities? Were horizontal divisions in identity or specialization within fortified communities emphasized, or elided? While fortified communities may have afforded new opportunities for political leaders, they may also have been associated with resistance to vertical distinctions and an ethos of conformity and solidarity. Participants from a broad spectrum of geographic and theoretical positions explore the diverse ways in which past populations (re)organized themselves in contexts of threat, however constituted. Papers will advance the study of fortifications beyond military strategy, and into anthropological arenas of social practice, economic organization, political landscape production, and regional scale interactions that unfolded under the shadow of such conflict.