Overview

This dissertation investigates the dynamics of social inequality in the Carpathian Basin between the Late Neolithic and the Middle/Late Bronze Age (5200–1000 BCE) through a quantitative analysis of burial contexts. Employing statistical methods, including Gini indices and Generalized Entropy Measures, the study evaluates the extent, development, and underlying factors of inequality within prehistoric societies. Key findings reveal a complex, cyclical pattern of inequality, challenging the notion of linear progression. While the overall mean levels of inequality show no consistent long-term increase or decrease, a significant broadening of inequality ranges is evident. This suggests increased societal diversification, with some communities maintaining egalitarian structures while others exhibited pronounced stratification. The research highlights that these disparities were likely driven by factors such as societal size, technological advancements, resource distribution, and cultural practices. A focused examination of wealth-based societal segments uncovers divergent trends: A slight equalisation among less wealthy societal segments contrasts with a marked concentration of wealth within wealthy groups. This work underscores the interplay of social, cultural, and material developments in shaping prehistoric inequality, providing a foundational framework for further exploration into the dynamics of past societies.

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Fynn Wilkes is an archaeologist specializing in social, economic, and settlement archaeology, with a focus on the prehistory of Central and South-eastern Europe. After earning his Master’s degree in Pre- and Protohistory and Geography from Kiel University in 2019, he joined the ROOTS Young Academy at Kiel University, completing his PhD in 2024. His research is focused around social, economic and settlement archaeology in the prehistory of Central and South-Eastern Europe. Currently, he conducts fieldwork on multiple Neolithic sites in the Southern Carpathian Basin.

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