Women, residential patterns and early social complexity. From theory to practice in Copper Age Iberia

The relationship between residence, gender and mobility is central to the study of early social complexity. And yet, until recently, it was deemed as archaeologically intractable. recent combination strontium data genomics with other methods has opened up entirely new possibilities for archaeological human mobility, but these advances are not without problems. Theoretical framing, empirical accuracy interpretation remain controversial. In this paper we address residence patterns, among complex societies, combining both ethnographic evidence. Our approach focuses on Chalcolithic Iberia, a period in which stage emerging complexity set. possible existence male-centered residential patterns their connection conflict, inequalities examined. available isotopes suggest women were more frequently buried places different from those where they grew up, can be linked bilocality biased patrilocality, especially so called ‘mega-sites’. While preliminary, body evidence opens fresh lines enquiry highlights benefits kinds evidence, underlines centrality analysis.