 previous article in this issue | next article in this issue  |
Preview first page |
Document Details : Title: Navigating Change Subtitle: Lori Berd as a Case Study in the Settlement Strategies of the Middle Bronze Age South Caucasus Author(s): DAVTYAN, Ruben , ARNHOLD, Simone , ULLRICH, Burkart , ZARIKIAN, Noushig Journal: Anatolica Volume: 51 Date: 2025 Pages: 111-144 DOI: 10.2143/ANA.51.0.3294794 Abstract : The Middle Bronze Age in the South Caucasus has long been a subject of scholarly debate, particularly regarding the extent and character of nomadism in societies of this period. The necropolises are significantly more numerous than settlement sites and our knowledge of Middle Bronze Age settlements remains limited. To address this gap and critically examine theoretical frameworks around lifestyle and socio-economic organization during this era, we investigated the Lori Berd settlement in northern Armenia, which contains one of the region’s highest concentrations of Middle Bronze Age material. Using geomagnetic surveys, analysis of excavated artifacts, and a re-assessment of previous excavations, our research uncovers evidence of a complex socio-economic transition in the Middle Bronze Age South Caucasus. The findings collectively support a model of year-round habitation that incorporates both agricultural and pastoral practices, challenging traditional views that emphasize transhumance as the primary economic structure of the region. By positioning Lori Berd within a wider network of Middle Bronze Age sites and associated necropolises, this study advances a more nuanced understanding of socio-economic organization, settlement architecture, and the interdependencies between craft production, livestock management, and landscape use in the South Caucasus. |
|
