Is length significant? LBK longhouses and the their social context in central-eastern Europe

Summary

In studies of LBK societies, one of the categories of feature which are potentially indicative of differences in social status are longhouses that are notable for their substantial length (e.g. over 33 m). The author examines this issue based on examples of LBK longhouses in Poland. Rescue excavations carried out during the past decade along the routes of planned motorways have led to the discovery of over 100 new longhouses together with their broader settlement contexts. This has provided a fresh insight into the social significance of very long longhouses based on analysis of their construction details and interior layout, evidence of extensions and repairs, the composition and distribution of refuse, as well as spatial relationships with other houses and changes over time. The author believes that the longest of longhouses was not the seat of an individual of exceptional status, but rather home to the most numerous (and most important?) household.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage