The human factor in the transformation of Southern Italian Bronze Age societies: Agency Theory and Marxism reconsidered

Published in Origini n. XXXV/2013. Rivista annuale del Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Antichità – “Sapienza” Università di Roma | Preistoria e protostoria delle civiltà antiche – Prehistory and protohistory of ancient civilizations

In the light of recent thinking, this is a consideration of two interconnected subjects: Agency Theory and Marxist Archaeology. It is a re-examination aimed at evaluating to what extent these theories can still contribute to the development of theoretical discussion in Prehistoric Archaeology; going beyond the limits inherent in research focussed on individuals in Prehistoric contexts to highlight the role of collective actions within Prehistoric communities as triggering factors in socio-economic transformations. These theoretical premises are then used to analyse transformations in social organisation of the Bronze Age community that settled in Coppa Nevigata (Manfredonia – Apulia).