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Communal versus Competitive Feasting: Comment on Kassabaum

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 October 2020

Brian Hayden*
Affiliation:
University of British Columbia, 2113-6303 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver, V6T 1Z1, British Columbia, Canada
*
([email protected], corresponding author)

Abstract

Megan Kassabaum has developed a useful approach for interpreting feasting remains, but its application to the Feltus site demonstrates that modifications need to be made. In particular, the characterization of competitive feasting is too simplistic, and her model does not include work types of feasts, which may be responsible for the remains at the Feltus site. The interpretation of feasting at the Feltus site as resulting from social solidarity needs of a dispersed egalitarian society appear questionable on the basis of a high incidence of special meat, the occurrence of smoking pipes, monumental architecture, and indications of possible human sacrifices.

Megan Kassabaum ha desarrollado una propuesta útil para interpretar los restos de banquetes, sin embargo su aplicación hacia el sitio Feltus demuestra que modificaciones serán necesarias. En particular, su caracterización de banquetes competitivos es demasiado simplista y su modelo no incluye banquetes asociados con labor, lo cual podría ser responsable por los restos de el sitio Feltus. La interpretación de un banquete en el sitio Feltus como resultado de una preocupación por la solidaridad social de una sociedad igualitaria dispersa parece cuestionable a base de una prevalencia alta de carne especial, la ocurrencia de pipas para fumar, arquitectura monumental, e indicaciones de posibles sacrificios humanos.

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Copyright
Copyright © 2020 by the Society for American Archaeology

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