Prof. Randi Haaland: Mothers‘ milk, beer and early pottery making:  On the use ethnographic observations for interpretation of the role of women in culture-historical developments in Africa.

Místo: Kampus Hybernská, sál 2D

Datum: Čtvrtek 5. 12. 2019, 16:00

Přednáška proběhne v angličtině.

 

Abstract

African pottery fragments (10.000 BCE) indicate that pots were used for plant processing.  It is suggested these plants were boiled to make gruel and beer. These items have constituted the staple food in savanna regions in Africa (and parts of Asia) until recent times. Based on insights drawn from ethnographic material the paper reflects on archaeological material with reference to beer, particularly the importance of beer in the transition from breast-feeding to solid food. Beer with its sweet-sour taste would be quite palatable for infants. This importance is reflected in the common metaphoric association of beer with mother’s milk. Women`s role in these activities are underlined.

Bionote

Prof. Randi Haaland

Department of Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies and Religion

University of Bergen, Norway

 

Randi Haaland is professor of African and Middle Eastern Archaeology at the Department of Archaeology, History, Culture studies and Religion, University of Bergen. Randi does research in African Archaeology. The current project is ‚Traditional iron working, technological and symbolic aspects of the activities.