Kinship and family in ancient Egypt : archaeology and anthropology in dialogue /

Olabarria (Univ. of Birmingham, UK) advocates for the application of anthropological and sociological theory to learn about ancient Egyptians' attitudes toward kinship and marriage through a study of their stelae from the First Intermediate Period through the Middle Kingdom. Using a holistic approach, Olabarria shows that stelae are social objects that communicate meaning in multifaceted ways. She assumes a level of knowledge of Egyptology and a familiarity with geographic locations, religious practices, and reading hieroglyphs and their Latinized equivalents, above that of a general reader. She also assumes familiarity with social and cultural anthropological theory and sociological theory. Using textual, iconographic, and archaeological sources, this study of kinship as portrayed in ancient Egyptian material culture showcases the potential for applying multidisciplinary theories to archaeological study to form an insider's conception of social structure. Thoroughly researched and documented, this book includes black-and-white photographs and illustrations, maps, endnotes, and a table on the Abydos North Offering Chapel area. Because of the in-depth application of theories from a range of subject areas and the assumption that readers are familiar with the author's previous work, this book is best for scholars. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students and faculty. --Nancy J. Mactague, formerly, Aurora University