Modelling Cultural Dynamics: A Macroscopic Approach To Cultural Transmission In The Prehistoric Aegean

In this paper we pursue a novel transdisciplinary approach to the question of cultural dynamics, focussing particularly on the transmission of cultural traits across socio-physical space. In order to think through some of the themes involved we take as a case study an inter-regional phenomenon known as ‘Minoanisation’ (Wiener 1990; Broodbank 2004). This term describes a set of processes observed in the prehistoricAegean (specifically the Middle and early Late Bronze Age) whereby ‘Minoan’ cultural traits find themselves transmitted beyond the Minoan sphere, i.e. theisland ofCrete. That is to say, communities in regions such as theCyclades, theDodecanese, coastalAsia Minor and the Greek mainland adopt aspects of Cretan culture, both in the form of actual imports fromCrete and also local imitations thereof. These cultural elements include pottery shapes and styles, stone vases, loomweights and wall paintings; not only new forms of material culture, but also, presumably, new cultural practices.

Accepted for ECCS '07, Dresden October 2007. Number p106.pdf on CD. Preprint number Imperial/TP/07/TSE/1.