Space as material culture: residential stone buildings on the precolonial Swahili coast in a comparative perspective

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F49777513%3A23330%2F18%3A43955197" target="_blank" >RIV/49777513:23330/18:43955197 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/60460709:41330/18:79831

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.academia.edu/39788396/Space_as_Material_Culture_residential_stone_buildings_on_the_precolonial_Swahili_coast_in_a_comparative_perspective" target="_blank" >https://www.academia.edu/39788396/Space_as_Material_Culture_residential_stone_buildings_on_the_precolonial_Swahili_coast_in_a_comparative_perspective</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

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Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Space as material culture: residential stone buildings on the precolonial Swahili coast in a comparative perspective

Original language description

This paper develops the notion that the structure of residential spaces has long been in a dialogue with social environments. It elaborates theoretical and methodological streams in the social sciences that focus on the interplay between society and the built environment. Space, rather than the built environment that articulates its structure, is subjected to analyses and conceptual interpretations relevant to the understanding of past constructed worlds. Although intangible and abstract, it is argued that space represents a type of material culture that could be studied through the use of the theory of affordances. We compare the layout of selected stone residences of various sizes that have been recorded in precolonial Swahili settlements at Gede, Kenya, and the Kilwa archipelago, Tanzania. To this end, we apply several methods of spatial analysis to reveal patterning in possible movements of people, and both physical and sensory access in buildings. The main goal of the paper is to derive an understanding of how these buildings helped to shape social values, and how they played a role in negotiation of multiple social interests, power, and trade relations among members of an urban society. The results highlight how material constructions like houses may channel social actions by reflecting contemporary social conventions. The argument also shows in what ways the unique nature of African urban heritage may be viewed, so that it could lend itself to cross-regional comparisons. The observations presented contribute to a broader discussion on the importance of interdisciplinary enquiry into the long history of African indigenous architecture.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_SC - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the SCOPUS database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

60102 - Archaeology

Project

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Continuities

S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach

Publication year

2018

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

South African Archaeological Bulletin

ISSN

0038-1969

e-ISSN

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Volume of the periodical

73

Issue of the periodical within the volume

208

Country of publishing house

ZA - SOUTH AFRICA

Number of pages

11

Pages from-to

82-92

UT code for WoS article

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EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85074110896