Megaliths, people and palaeoeconomics in Neolithic Malta

Caroline Malone; Finbar McCormick; Rowan McLaughlin; Simon  Stoddart

Megaliths, people and palaeoeconomics in Neolithic Malta

Caroline Malone, Finbar McCormick, Rowan McLaughlin, Simon Stoddart

School of Natural and Built Environment

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

14 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The communities of Neolithic Malta developed within a restricted island environment that provided limited opportunities for economic expansion or success. The development of the curious Temple Culture in the fourth-third millennia BC nevertheless demonstrated an exceptional level of sustainable, yet dense, population with a distinctive civilisation. Towards the end of the third millennium the traditional system broke down, the temples were abandoned, and there may have been related environment/or economic failure which brought in a new Bronze Age cultural system, and with it, a far less sustainable approach to managing a marginal place. This paper described how new environmentally focused research is tackling the issues of reconstructing past economies and environments, and attempts to interpret the factors that underpinned the balance between people, place and their megalithic monuments.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Megaliths – societies – landscapes: early monumentality and social differentiation in Neolithic Europe: proceedings of the international conference »Megaliths – Societies – Landscapes. Early Monumentality and Social Differentiation in Neolithic Europe« (16th–20th June 2015) in Kiel
Editors	Johannes Muller, Martin Hinz, Maria Wunderlich
Place of Publication	Bonn
Publisher	Verlag Dr. Rudolf Habelt GmbH
Pages	753-69
Volume	2
ISBN (Print)	9783774942134
Publication status	Published - 2019

Publication series

Name	Early Monumentality And Social Differentiation / Frühe Monumentalität und soziale Differenzierung
Publisher	Verlag Dr. Rudolf Habelt GmbH
Volume	18

Keywords

landscapes, prehistory, megaliths, societies, economics, subsistence, architecture, Neolithic, zooarchaeology, plants, palaeobotany, environment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Arts and Humanities(all)
Environmental Science(all)
Social Sciences(all)

Access to Document

Megaliths, people and palaeoeconomics in Neolithic Malta
Copyright 2019 Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel and the Authors.
Accepted author manuscript, 949 KBLicence: Other

1 Active

R6395ARL: Fragility and sustainability in restricted island environments: adaption, cultural change and collapse in prehistory
Ruffell, A., Blaauw, M., Hunt, C., Malone, C., McCormick, F., Reimer, P. & Whitehouse, N.
01/08/2012 → …
Project: Research

4 Publication peer-review
3 Invited talk
2 Other
1 Participation in conference

World Archaeology (Journal)
Caroline Malone (Peer reviewer), Simon Stoddart (Peer reviewer) & Rowan McLaughlin (Peer reviewer)
Dec 2018
Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Publication peer-review
'Interdisciplinary Archaeology in Malta: Seeking a New Island Prehistory
Caroline Malone (Advisor)
13 Nov 2018
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Hypogea and the Club House: Neolithic Malta's houses for the dead.
Caroline Malone (Advisor)
05 Nov 2018
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk

Neolithic Studies Group - Houses for the Dead Meeting
Caroline Malone
05/11/2018
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
Behind the Science NVTV
Caroline Malone
04/10/2018
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
Malta: Film - Smithsonian Institution
Caroline Malone
01/09/2017
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities

1 Book
1 Chapter (peer-reviewed)
1 Paper

Temple Landscapes: Fragility, change and resilience of Holocene environments in the Maltese Islands.
Malone, C., Stoddart, S., McLaughlin, R., Hunt, C., French, C. & Grima, R., 05 Nov 2020, Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research Cambridge. 569 p. (Fragsus Project Monographs; vol. 1)
Research output: Book/Report › Book

Open Access
Hypogea and the clubhouse: Neolithic Malta's houses of the living and the dead.
Malone, C., McLaughlin, R., Barratt, R. & Parkinson, E. W., 2019, Houses of the dead?: Neolithic Studies Group Seminar papers 17. Barclay, A., Field, D. & Leary, J. (eds.). Oxford: Oxbow, Vol. 17. p. 15-37 23 p. (Neolithic Studies Group Seminar Papers).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review
Small island sustainability and a case study for Malta.
Malone, C., Brogan, C., McLaughlin, T. & Stoddart, S., 2016, p. 403 - 416, 485. 13 p.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

Cite this

Malone, C., McCormick, F., McLaughlin, R., & Stoddart, S. (2019). Megaliths, people and palaeoeconomics in Neolithic Malta. In J. Muller, M. Hinz, & M. Wunderlich (Eds.), Megaliths – societies – landscapes: early monumentality and social differentiation in Neolithic Europe: proceedings of the international conference »Megaliths – Societies – Landscapes. Early Monumentality and Social Differentiation in Neolithic Europe« (16th–20th June 2015) in Kiel (Vol. 2, pp. 753-69). (Early Monumentality And Social Differentiation / Frühe Monumentalität und soziale Differenzierung; Vol. 18). Verlag Dr. Rudolf Habelt GmbH.

Malone, Caroline ; McCormick, Finbar ; McLaughlin, Rowan et al. / Megaliths, people and palaeoeconomics in Neolithic Malta. Megaliths – societies – landscapes: early monumentality and social differentiation in Neolithic Europe: proceedings of the international conference »Megaliths – Societies – Landscapes. Early Monumentality and Social Differentiation in Neolithic Europe« (16th–20th June 2015) in Kiel. editor / Johannes Muller ; Martin Hinz ; Maria Wunderlich. Vol. 2 Bonn : Verlag Dr. Rudolf Habelt GmbH, 2019. pp. 753-69 (Early Monumentality And Social Differentiation / Frühe Monumentalität und soziale Differenzierung).

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abstract = "The communities of Neolithic Malta developed within a restricted island environment that provided limited opportunities for economic expansion or success. The development of the curious Temple Culture in the fourth-third millennia BC nevertheless demonstrated an exceptional level of sustainable, yet dense, population with a distinctive civilisation. Towards the end of the third millennium the traditional system broke down, the temples were abandoned, and there may have been related environment/or economic failure which brought in a new Bronze Age cultural system, and with it, a far less sustainable approach to managing a marginal place. This paper described how new environmentally focused research is tackling the issues of reconstructing past economies and environments, and attempts to interpret the factors that underpinned the balance between people, place and their megalithic monuments.",

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editor = "Johannes Muller and Martin Hinz and Wunderlich, {Maria }",

booktitle = "Megaliths – societies – landscapes: early monumentality and social differentiation in Neolithic Europe: proceedings of the international conference »Megaliths – Societies – Landscapes. Early Monumentality and Social Differentiation in Neolithic Europe« (16th–20th June 2015) in Kiel",

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Malone, C, McCormick, F, McLaughlin, R & Stoddart, S 2019, Megaliths, people and palaeoeconomics in Neolithic Malta. in J Muller, M Hinz & M Wunderlich (eds), Megaliths – societies – landscapes: early monumentality and social differentiation in Neolithic Europe: proceedings of the international conference »Megaliths – Societies – Landscapes. Early Monumentality and Social Differentiation in Neolithic Europe« (16th–20th June 2015) in Kiel. vol. 2, Early Monumentality And Social Differentiation / Frühe Monumentalität und soziale Differenzierung, vol. 18, Verlag Dr. Rudolf Habelt GmbH, Bonn, pp. 753-69.

Megaliths, people and palaeoeconomics in Neolithic Malta. / Malone, Caroline; McCormick, Finbar; McLaughlin, Rowan et al.

Megaliths – societies – landscapes: early monumentality and social differentiation in Neolithic Europe: proceedings of the international conference »Megaliths – Societies – Landscapes. Early Monumentality and Social Differentiation in Neolithic Europe« (16th–20th June 2015) in Kiel. ed. / Johannes Muller; Martin Hinz; Maria Wunderlich. Vol. 2 Bonn : Verlag Dr. Rudolf Habelt GmbH, 2019. p. 753-69 (Early Monumentality And Social Differentiation / Frühe Monumentalität und soziale Differenzierung; Vol. 18).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - Megaliths, people and palaeoeconomics in Neolithic Malta

AU - Malone, Caroline

AU - McCormick, Finbar

AU - McLaughlin, Rowan

AU - Stoddart, Simon

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - The communities of Neolithic Malta developed within a restricted island environment that provided limited opportunities for economic expansion or success. The development of the curious Temple Culture in the fourth-third millennia BC nevertheless demonstrated an exceptional level of sustainable, yet dense, population with a distinctive civilisation. Towards the end of the third millennium the traditional system broke down, the temples were abandoned, and there may have been related environment/or economic failure which brought in a new Bronze Age cultural system, and with it, a far less sustainable approach to managing a marginal place. This paper described how new environmentally focused research is tackling the issues of reconstructing past economies and environments, and attempts to interpret the factors that underpinned the balance between people, place and their megalithic monuments.

AB - The communities of Neolithic Malta developed within a restricted island environment that provided limited opportunities for economic expansion or success. The development of the curious Temple Culture in the fourth-third millennia BC nevertheless demonstrated an exceptional level of sustainable, yet dense, population with a distinctive civilisation. Towards the end of the third millennium the traditional system broke down, the temples were abandoned, and there may have been related environment/or economic failure which brought in a new Bronze Age cultural system, and with it, a far less sustainable approach to managing a marginal place. This paper described how new environmentally focused research is tackling the issues of reconstructing past economies and environments, and attempts to interpret the factors that underpinned the balance between people, place and their megalithic monuments.

KW - landscapes, prehistory, megaliths, societies, economics, subsistence, architecture, Neolithic, zooarchaeology, plants, palaeobotany, environment

M3 - Chapter (peer-reviewed)

SN - 9783774942134

VL - 2

T3 - Early Monumentality And Social Differentiation / Frühe Monumentalität und soziale Differenzierung

SP - 753

EP - 769

BT - Megaliths – societies – landscapes: early monumentality and social differentiation in Neolithic Europe: proceedings of the international conference »Megaliths – Societies – Landscapes. Early Monumentality and Social Differentiation in Neolithic Europe« (16th–20th June 2015) in Kiel

A2 - Muller, Johannes

A2 - Hinz, Martin

A2 - Wunderlich, Maria

PB - Verlag Dr. Rudolf Habelt GmbH

CY - Bonn

ER -

Malone C, McCormick F, McLaughlin R, Stoddart S. Megaliths, people and palaeoeconomics in Neolithic Malta. In Muller J, Hinz M, Wunderlich M, editors, Megaliths – societies – landscapes: early monumentality and social differentiation in Neolithic Europe: proceedings of the international conference »Megaliths – Societies – Landscapes. Early Monumentality and Social Differentiation in Neolithic Europe« (16th–20th June 2015) in Kiel. Vol. 2. Bonn: Verlag Dr. Rudolf Habelt GmbH. 2019. p. 753-69. (Early Monumentality And Social Differentiation / Frühe Monumentalität und soziale Differenzierung).

Megaliths, people and palaeoeconomics in Neolithic Malta

Abstract

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