An Archaeological Evaluation of the Gimbutas Paradigm
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/pome.v13i6.35Keywords:
neo-paganism, archaeology, Marija Gimbutas, Neolithic AgeAbstract
As an archaeologist, I found Mara Keller’s assessment of the discipline and Marija Gimbutas’ contributions to it in the August 1998 issue of The Pomegranate both inaccurate and disturbing. Keller’s portrayal of archaeologists is a parody of the discipline a half century ago, while she uncritically accepts Gimbutas’ Interpretations which are fraught with very real problems.References
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Chapman, J. 1991. “The creation of social arenas in Varna.” in P. Garwood (ed.), Sacred and profane. Oxford University Committee for Archaeology, Monograph 32: 152-171.
Demoule, J., and C. Perles. 1993. “The Greek Neolithic: A new review.” Journal of World Prehistory 7: 355-416.
Dissanayake, Ellen. 1988. What is art for? Seattle: UW Press.
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Marinatos, Nanno. 1993. Minoan religion. U of South Carolina Press.
Milisauskas, Sarunas. 1986. “Selective survey of archaeological research in eastern Europe.” American Antiquity 51: 779-798.
Milisauskas, Sarunas, and Janusz Kruk. 1989. “Neolithic economy in central Europe.” Journal of World Prehistory 3: 403-446.
Mills, Nigel. 1984. “The Neolithic of southern France.” in Christopher Scarre (ed.), Ancient France. Edinburgh UP. 91-145.
Renfrew, Colin, and Paul Bahn. 1996. Archaeology: theories, methods, and practice. New York: Thames and Hudson.
Sakellarakis, Yannis and Efi Sapouna-Sakellaraki. 1981. “Drama of death in a Minoan temple.” National Geographic 159(2): 205-222.
Wahl, J, and H. Konig. 1987. “Anthropologisch-traumatologische Untersuchung der menschlichen Skelettreste aus dem bandkeramischen Massengrab bei Talheim, Kreis Hilbronn.” Fundberichte aus Baden-Wurttenberg, Band 12: 65-194.
Webster, Gary. 1990. “Labor control and emergent stratification in prehistoric Europe.” Current Anthropology 31: 337-355.
Wilber, Ken (ed.). 1984. Quantum Questions. Boulder: Shambala.
Cauvin, Jacques. 1994. Naissance des divinités, naissance de l’agriculture. Paris: CNRS Editions.
Chapman, J. 1991. “The creation of social arenas in Varna.” in P. Garwood (ed.), Sacred and profane. Oxford University Committee for Archaeology, Monograph 32: 152-171.
Demoule, J., and C. Perles. 1993. “The Greek Neolithic: A new review.” Journal of World Prehistory 7: 355-416.
Dissanayake, Ellen. 1988. What is art for? Seattle: UW Press.
Dumézil, Georges. 1952. Les dieux des indo-europèens. Paris: Galliard.
DumÈzil, Georges. 1958. L’idÈologie tri-partie des indo-europèens. Brussels: Latomus.
Evans, Robert, and Judith Rasson. 1984. “Ex Balcanis lux? Recent developments in Neolithic and Chalcolithic research in Southeast Europe.” American Antiquity 49: 713-741.
Hayden, Brian. 1986. “Old Europe: Sacred matriarchy or complementary opposition?” in A. Bonanno (ed.), Archaeology and fertility cult in the ancient Mediterranean. Amsterdam: Gruner, 17-30.
Hayden, Brian. 1987. “Alliances and ritual ecstasy: Human responses to resource stress.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 26(1): 81-91.
Hutton, Ronald. 1991. The pagan religions of the ancient British Isles. Oxford: Blackwell.
Keeley, Lawrence. 1996. War before civilization: The myth of the pacific past. Oxford UP.
Keeley, Lawrence. 1997. “Frontier warfare in the early Neolithic.” in Debra Martin and David Frayer (eds.), Troubled Times: Violence and warfare in the past. Australia: Gordon and Breach. 303-319.
Littleton, C. Scott. 1973. The new comparative mythology. Berkeley: UC Press.
Marinatos, Nanno. 1993. Minoan religion. U of South Carolina Press.
Milisauskas, Sarunas. 1986. “Selective survey of archaeological research in eastern Europe.” American Antiquity 51: 779-798.
Milisauskas, Sarunas, and Janusz Kruk. 1989. “Neolithic economy in central Europe.” Journal of World Prehistory 3: 403-446.
Mills, Nigel. 1984. “The Neolithic of southern France.” in Christopher Scarre (ed.), Ancient France. Edinburgh UP. 91-145.
Renfrew, Colin, and Paul Bahn. 1996. Archaeology: theories, methods, and practice. New York: Thames and Hudson.
Sakellarakis, Yannis and Efi Sapouna-Sakellaraki. 1981. “Drama of death in a Minoan temple.” National Geographic 159(2): 205-222.
Wahl, J, and H. Konig. 1987. “Anthropologisch-traumatologische Untersuchung der menschlichen Skelettreste aus dem bandkeramischen Massengrab bei Talheim, Kreis Hilbronn.” Fundberichte aus Baden-Wurttenberg, Band 12: 65-194.
Webster, Gary. 1990. “Labor control and emergent stratification in prehistoric Europe.” Current Anthropology 31: 337-355.
Wilber, Ken (ed.). 1984. Quantum Questions. Boulder: Shambala.
Published
1998-11-01
Issue
Section
Articles
How to Cite
Hayden, B. (1998). An Archaeological Evaluation of the Gimbutas Paradigm. Pomegranate, 6(Autumn), 35-46. https://doi.org/10.1558/pome.v13i6.35
