module 3

Question 1

why is prehistory different

Answer 1

• Prehistory has no documentation - unlike other historical periods
  Interpretations are dependent on artifacts and archaeological contexts

Question 2

how is pre history connected to invisibility of women

Answer 2

• The intrepretation of prehistory is largely biased with a male centered approach - androcentrism
  Has led to the “invisibility of women” in prehistory

Question 3

recent criticisms of archaeological interpretations?

Answer 3

• more recent criticisms of archaeological interpretations have revealed the heteronormativity (or a view that promotes heterosexuality as the “normal” or preferred sexual orientation) inherent in assumptions about gender, sexuality, and the body in the past.

Question 4

how have feminists responded to these criticisms?

Answer 4

In light of these criticisms, feminist and queer anthropologists have called for gendered and queer approaches to prehistory and archaeology.

Question 5

when does prehistory refer to? biased intereptations?

Answer 5

• Prehistory refers to the time period before the invention of writing (less than 6000 years ago), or other forms of documentation (e.g., hieroglyphs), and is understood through the analysis of archaeological remains.
• being reassessed

Question 6

concerns about prehistory analysis based on modern view?

Answer 6

many of these analyses have led to androcentric and/or heteronormative interpretations of the past.
* there is a concern that by projecting modern-day views of male and female gender roles (e.g., man as the breadwinner and woman as the homemaker) onto the human prehistoric past, many of our current views of males and females may seem eternal and unchanging (i.e., biologically based and innate).

Question 7

how can applying a gendered approach affect pre history models?

Answer 7

• By applying a gendered approach to archaeology and prehistory, feminist archaeologists are re-evaluating androcentric models and see adaptation through human history as a collaborative effort between men and women.

Question 8

man the hunter premise? based on what 3 ideas?

Answer 8

• Much of the literature about humans in prehistory has been based on the “man the hunter premise.”
  ○ This androcentric view is based on three main ideas:
  1. Meat is and has been the most important food item through prehistory.
  2. Only men hunt meat.
  3. Men bring home meat in exchange for sexual access with women.

Question 9

criticism of man the hunter premise

Answer 9

• this premise has been criticized on many levels but most commonly for its biased focus on males thereby ignoring or lessening the role of women in prehistory
  
  • many assumptions underlying traditional archaeological interpretations have reflected heteronormativity, or a view that promotes heterosexuality as the normal or preferred sexual orientation