The Bell Beaker Phenomenon in Europe: A Harmony of Difference

The Bell Beaker Phenomenon is a key period in the transition from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age, characterized by the emergence of social élites. This Element offers a synthetic account of the evidence structured on a regional basis and suggests that it can be described as a metapopulation, a concept borrowed from population ecology.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 21 March 2024
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The Bell Beaker Phenomenon, spanning vast regions of Europe, has held a privileged position in the annals of archaeology, often regarded as a pivotal era in the transition from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. This distinction is largely attributed to the rise of social elites during this time. Providing a concise overview of the historiography surrounding the Bell Beaker phenomenon, this Element presents a comprehensive synthesis of the available evidence, organized regionally. In light of the recent resurgence of interest in human mobility driven by stable isotopes and ancient DNA studies, the central thesis advanced herein is that the Bell Beaker Phenomenon can be aptly described as a metapopulation, a concept borrowed from population ecology. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

The Bell Beaker Phenomenon, spanning vast regions of Europe, has held a privileged position in the annals of archaeology, often regarded as a pivotal era in the transition from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. This distinction is largely attributed to the rise of social elites during this time. Providing a concise overview of the historiography surrounding the Bell Beaker phenomenon, this Element presents a comprehensive synthesis of the available evidence, organized regionally. In light of the recent resurgence of interest in human mobility driven by stable isotopes and ancient DNA studies, the central thesis advanced herein is that the Bell Beaker Phenomenon can be aptly described as a metapopulation, a concept borrowed from population ecology. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

The Bell Beaker Phenomenon, spanning vast regions of Europe, has held a privileged position in the annals of archaeology, often regarded as a pivotal era in the transition from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. This distinction is largely attributed to the rise of social elites during this time. Providing a concise overview of the historiography surrounding the Bell Beaker phenomenon, this Element presents a comprehensive synthesis of the available evidence, organized regionally. In light of the recent resurgence of interest in human mobility driven by stable isotopes and ancient DNA studies, the central thesis advanced herein is that the Bell Beaker Phenomenon can be aptly described as a metapopulation, a concept borrowed from population ecology. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

ISBN-13: 9781009496865