There Was Not as Much Inequality in Prehistoric Europe as We Imagine, archaeologist suggests

In a new paper, published in American Antiquity, Prof John Robb challenges the long accepted narratives of inequality in prehistoric Europe.

This paper examines whether such narratives are really justified by the facts. Prof Robb posits that many of the foundations for theories of social inequality in prehistory are based on a limited selection of sites, or 'greatest hits' as referred to in the paper, which were likely not representative of the periods. Further, that the evidence cited is that of burial sites, only painting part of the picture of former societies.

Using Central Mediterranean prehistory from the Palaeolithic through Classical times as a case study, Prof Robb suggests that claims of inequality have been archaeologically overstated, and hierarchy may not have been the typical way of running society for most of human history.

The paper draws on recent anthropological theories of self-government to show both how people were capable of complex achievements such as long-distance trade, specialised economies and monumental building without managerial leaders, and how they actively shaped their social relations to forestall the development of social inequality.