Mahan Political Economy: Evidence from Ceramic Geochemistry

Summary

This is an abstract from the "New Evidence, Methods, Theories, and Challenges to Understanding Prehistoric Economies in Korea" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Emerging data from the Mahan cultures of South Korea are fundamentally changing our understanding of this complex society and its relationship with Korea's early states. Using INAA data on ceramic geochemistry, patterns of production traditions and trade relationships reveal a political economy based largely on local production but incorporating production of more prestigious wares at a distance from major settlements, as well as the collection of pottery originating from other regions. As historical narratives have depicted Mahan as an advanced but decentralized society, this kind of evidence is crucial to interpretations of the internal function of individual Mahan polities, and the nature of their alliance with other cultures falling under the broad label of Mahan. This study will thoroughly interrogate the notion of Mahan-ness and the ramifications for Korean state formation.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM (2019)   •
• New Evidence, Methods, Theories, and Challenges to Understanding Prehistoric Economies in Korea

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 25115