Examining the Economic Implications of Ritual Practices

This study aims to shed light on the potential economic implications of ritual practices, particularly emphasising the role of ritual hoards. It is suggested that an increase in the demand for ritual items acted as a catalyst for specialisation, contributing to the emergence of complex craft industries and exchange networks in the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age. The article examines 46 ritual hoards from Rogaland, southwestern Norway, to assess the overall quality of the artefacts and the degree of standardisation within the assemblages. The results point to Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age craft production being relatively specialised, high-volume, and potentially oriented toward distant regions. The article further discusses the implications of these findings for our understanding of ritual practices, highlighting how the meaning of objects can transform as they are exchanged and incorporated into new settings.

Bronze · Bronze Age · Craft · Meaning (existential) · Quality (philosophy) · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis