February
12 Scott Pletka, UCLA
The Evolution
and Function of Monumental Construction in Prehistoric Denmark
I present and evaluate several
models for why groups build monuments. The cultural significance of monuments
motivated intermediate-scale societies to build and use them, but monumental
construction spread and persisted because those monuments served various
functions. Monuments created a social landscape. Thus, they influenced
how individuals and groups interacted with each other. Groups that
built monuments were more successful, ultimately, because monuments helped
create important institutions. Monuments in Thy, Denmark may have
functioned as focal points for interaction or as territorial markers, depending
on the kinds of social problems which existed during their period of construction
and use.