Pages: 59-76

The paper deals with the issues of social interaction and power management in the hunter-gatherer communities of the Fertile Crescent which were in the process of transition to the sedentary way of life. Architectural and decorative evidence from public buildings erected for religious purposes reflects the social structure of well-organized groups, which were ideologically united around their leaders and dominated by men. The development of new mechanisms and means of social interaction helped to mitigate social tension and establish predominantly contractual mutually beneficial relationships both within and among growing human communities.

Keywords: Northern Mesopotamia, Epipalaeolithic, Pre-Pottery Neolithic, social structures, aggression, egalitarianism

Information about author:

Tatiana Kornienko (Voronezh, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Voronezh State Pedagogical University. Lenin St., 86, Voronezh, 394024, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]