Panel 1.3 – The economic contribution of migrants to ancient societies. Technological transfer, integration, exploitation and interaction of economic mentalities


Organiser/Chair:

  • Raffaella Da Vela (University of Leipzig)

Panel abstract

The proposed panel session aims to discuss the impact of migrations on ancient economies. We aim to understand the economic role of migrants in the local communities and their position in the host societies through a wide range of contributions about ancient economic spaces in the Mediterranean and in Central Europe. In particular, we will discuss the function of migration and mobility within the fields of production, exchange and consumption.

In the field of the production, we are going to analyse technological developments and economic growth in host communities following the cultural interaction and the transmission of technological knowledge due to human mobility. Furthermore, we will analyse the social position of the migrants in the work market of their new communities and in the new settled territories. A key aspect will be the contribution of migrants to the production and their networking role for the exchange. The ports of trade will be taken in consideration as a meeting-point of different economic systems. In the field of consumption, we are going to present the coexistence of different economic mentalities, as factors of innovation and conflict in local communities. Consumerism will be taken in consideration to understand dynamics of interaction, integration and segregation. The consumption behavior will be considered as proxy to understand the social identities of migrants and their expressions.

The speakers are asked to compare their case studies to build a common platform of discussion, overtaking chronological and geographical specificities, in the way to discuss more general methodological and theoretical questions: Which archaeological data are suitable to detect the relationships between economic behavior and cultural identities? How did different economic and political systems affect the position of migrants in the local communities and their participation to local and global economies? Which are the effects of different strategies of economic integration of migrants in the host societies on the economic development and on the social stability of local markets and communities? Is our interpretation biased by our modern perspectives or is it possible to contextualize an agent based perception of the economic role of ancient migrants?

Paper abstracts

1. Lukas Bohnenkämper (Universität Basel)

Down to the river for pay - Migrant workforce in Middle Kingdom Egypt
The paper will discuss the archaeological and textual documentation of migrants during the Egyptian Middle Kingdom (ca. 2040–1730 B.C.) and their different economic activities and positions as far as they are traceable. The various interactions with people from Upper and Lower Nubia (Kerma Culture, C-Group Culture, Pan Grave Culture, Medjay), the Levant and the Aegean occurred in a time when Egypt took increasing interest in foreign trade and direct control over neighbouring areas to the south. Especially the Levantine settlers in Auaris/ Tell el-Dab'a were assumably crucial for the extensification of Egypt's trade with the societies of the eastern Mediterranean. Others, like the Medjay, had important roles in the Egyptian military as soldiers and border patrols.

"Down to the River. Migration im ägyptischen Mittleren Reich" (Fulltext)

 

2. Kewin Peche-Quilichini (Univ. Paul-Valéry Montpellier, CNRS) / Laura Pagliantini (Università degli Studi di Foggia)

Migrations and economical interactions in the North Tyrrhenian basin (1500 BC – 100 AD): the examples of Corsican and Elban detroits
The island of Elba has been a key transit point between the Tyrrhenian route of cabotage and the itinerary linking the largest islands of the northern and central sector of the Tyrrhenian Sea. That is also reflected in the funerary practice. The bronze finds of the EIA. clearly indicate broader cultural horizons of reference, enabling the reconstruction of a network not only within the Populonia area and the most advanced centers of the nearby Tyrrhenian coast, but also with inner central Italy and, above all, with Corsica and Sardinia. The vitality of the local metalworking is favored not only by the direct availability of the raw materials but also from contacts with consolidated manufacturing knowledges coming from the neighboring areas. In the LBA–EIA, local burial customs are evidence of the cultural syncretism between Elba and the mid-western territories of Corsica and Sardinia.
In Corsica, this relay situation is also evident. In the MBA, connections with Peninsular Italy give rise to the development of a local facies of ceramic style. In the Late Bronze Age, various productions illustrate profound interactions between the south of the island and the north of Sardinia, possible echo of exogamic practices. In the EIA, relations with Villanovan Italy are materialized by the introduction of bronze artefacts. At the end of the LIA, the circulation of indigenous pottery attests migrations of the islanders towards Tuscany and the island of Elba.

"Migrations and Economic Interactions in the North Tyrrhenian Basin (1500 BC – 100 AD): the Examples of the Straits of Corsica and Elba" (Fulltext)

 

3. Jeremy Hayne (University of Glasgow)

Phoenician migrants? interactions and integrations at Nuraghe S'Urachi, West Sardinia
In the prehistoric world the idea of migration focuses our attention on the individual or group rather than on that of the more usual term of 'colonisation', often o overlaid by preconceptions of power and inequality. In fact, migration in the sense of movement of peoples is a key concept in archaeology as the resulting change and/or continuity in host societies are often the most important study areas. This paper first focuses on the movement of people during the first millennium in Sardinia, especially the formation of settlements in the south west of the island by Phoenician settlers. Was the development of settlements a result of colonisation or migration? Secondly it examines the material culture of the Phoenician settlement at the indigenous site of S'Urachi, what economic role did the Phoenicians play in the later life of the nuraghe and how is this visible in the archaeological record?

"Phoenician Migrants in Sardinia? Economic Considerations with Special Reference to Nuraghe S’Urachi, San Vero Milis (OR)" (Fulltext)

 

4. Marion Bolder Boos (Technische Universität Darmstadt)

Trading trinkets for silver? Some thoughts on the Phoenicians' economic impact on indigenous societies in Iberia
It has often been assumed that the Phoenician expansion in the first half of the first millennium BCE was largely due to their search for raw materials, especially metal. In order to secure their trade, the Phoenicians were thought to have established small settlements along the way to serve as ports-of-trade for their ships and as marketplaces for the exchange of goods, but without their presence having much impact on the indigenous societies. With the realization that some of those ports-of-trade were actually situated at such a short distance from one another (e.g. along the Andalusian coast) that their purpose as mere stepping stones along the way westward seems superfluous, and with a growing interest in the indigenous populations themselves, this model has come under scrutiny.

The aim of this paper is to take a closer look at the interrelations between the Phoenician migrants and the local populations along the coast of Andalusia during the 9th to 6th centuries BCE.

"Trading trinkets for silver? Some thoughts on the Phoenicians' economic impact on indigenous societies in Iberia" (Fulltext)

 

5. Alexander Boix (University of Bonn)

Migration of Athenian Potters and Painters in the Late 5th Century BC
The paper focuses on the migration of Athenian potters and painters who left Athens in order to find new employments in various regions of Greece in the context of the socio-political crisis caused by the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC). This paper will take in account the impact of the integration of the migrated artisans in existing or re-established workshops on the social and economic structures. The craftsmen introduce themselves into their new homelands, not only as workers, but moreover as medi-ators of their expertise. My case study consists in the red-figure vase painting fabrics that since the late archaic and early classical period has been distributed into the entire Mediterranean region exclusively by Athenian traders. Therefore, the concept of exchange and the mutual influence of indigenous and 'migrated' art will be reviewed and, furthermore, the importance of new emission centers for the local market as well as for the Athenian trade in these regions will be analysed. Finally, the paper will dis-cuss the political and social developments and the related reasons, which led to the migration of these craftsmen.

"Migration of Athenian Potters and Painters in the Late 5th Century BC" (Fulltext)

 

6. Heba Abd el Gawad (Helwan University)

Integration, exploitation or everything in between?: Greek immigrants and the economic negotiations in Ptolemaic Egypt
Approaches to Ptolemaic Egypt tend to frame it within the narrow biased frame of colonialism. In this respect, Egypt is perceived as being colonised by the Ptolemies and the Egyptians are traditionally perceived as the weakest link. This paper challenges current approaches to the immigration economy in Ptolemaic Egypt, highlighting the need to rethink of the impact of our modern biases on the interpretation of the multicultural past. It proposes a more balanced contextual approach to immigration placing the multi-layered socio-economic negotiations between the various social groups at central stage.

"Integration, exploitation or everything in between?: Greek immigrants and the economic negotiations in Ptolemaic Egypt" (Fulltext)

 

7. Simeon Tzonev (University of Basel)

Neue Beobachtungen zur graeco-ägyptischen Plastikherstellung
Infolge der Eroberung Ägyptens durch Alexander kam es zu einer grossen Migrationswelle von Hellenen, die zu einer wichtigen Basis der ptolemäischen Herrschaft wurden. Dabei kam es zu vielfältigen Kulturkontakten mit den Einheimischen.
Die Deutung der Plastiken aus dem hellenistischen Ägypten bewegte sich lange in dem Spannungsfeld zwischen kultureller Verschmelzung einerseits und der parallelen Koexistenz zweier eigenständiger Kulturen andererseits. Die genauere Betrachtung ergibt allerdings ein komplexeres Bild. Die in der Plastikproduktion fassbaren Kulturkontakte reichen von der Integration ägyptischer Themen und einzelner Bildaspekte in sonst in griechischer Tradition stehender Bildwerke, bzw. griechischer Themen und Bildaspekte in ägyptischen Bildwerken, bis hin zu stark hybriden Bildwerken. Besonderes Augenmerk verdient hierbei die Frage der Materialien bzw. der herstellenden Handwerker. Da die Arbeit in nicht traditionell verwendeten Materialien für ungeübte Handwerker kaum mit Erfolg umsetzbar ist, liegt die Erklärung nahe, dass es eine enge Kooperation zwischen Handwerkern aus den verschiedenen Kulturkreisen gab, die zum intensiven Austausch von Know-how führte. Diese genannten Aspekte des Technologie- und Kulturaustausches sollen Gegenstand dieses Beitrags sein. Es geht dabei auch um die politische Tragweite der Repräsentationskunst, da es sich um gewollte und zuweilen gesteuerte Prozesse handelt, deren kulturhistorischer Hintergrund hinterfragt werden muss.

"Neue Beobachtungen zur graeco-ägyptischen Plastikherstellung" (Fulltext)

 

8. Raffaella Da Vela (Universität Leipzig)

Consumption Behaviors and Economic Mentalities of Migrants in Late Hellenistic Etruria
The paper aims to analyze the contribution of migrants to the economy of local communities in late Hellenistic northern Etruria. The main research question focuses on the consumption behaviors of migrants and on how their representation in funerary context could be affected, on a hand, by homeland-traditions and trade-networks and, on another hand, by the attempt to get integrated or accepted in the new country.

Some case study from different geographical regions will be taken in account, in particular the necropoleis of Castiglioncello and Populonia on the coast, these around the Trasimene Lake and these in the inland of Volterra.

Through the combination of network analysis and analysis of the identity markers within the grave-goods of the late Hellenistic necropoleis one will first individuate graves of migrants within the Etruscan communities. Following, one will compare the position of the consumption behaviors of migrants in the clusterization of grave-goods of the necropoleis. The choices related to the purchase of goods and their exhibition will be reviewed as an expression of cultural and social identities of migrants. The coexistence of different economic mentalities will be discuss as factors of innovation and conflict in local communities. Finally, consumerism will be taken in consideration to understand dynamics of interaction, integration and segregation.

"Consumption Behaviors and Economic Mentalities of Migrants in Hellenistic Etruria" (Fulltext)

 

9. Hale Guney (University of Cologne)

The Impact of Migrant Communities from Asia Minor in the Balkan Provinces during the Roman Period: The cases of Bithynia and Galatia
The foundation of new provinces in the Balkans under the Principate facilitated economic connections between previously established neighbour provinces in Asia Minor and the Balkan provinces. There were two main reasons for economic relationship connected one another: the first was rich natural sources in the Balkans and the second was the need for urbanization in newly conquered land which was non-urbanised and non-monetized inhabited by non-Roman population.
This paper focuses on the migrant communities from Bithynia and Galatia in the Balkan provinces (Pannonia, Dacia, Moesia and Thrace) during the second and third centuries AD and it aims to provide a detailed survey for the economic impact of migrant people in the Balkans. For this reason, first, the cults originated from Galatia and attested in the Balkans will be surveyed and examined. Secondly, the paper takes archaeological evidence into account to evaluate the economic impact which is more visible in consumption patterns.
These results show that the cities in Asia Minor made an important contribution to the development of the Balkan provinces in terms of urbanization and monetization.

"The Impact of Migrant Communities from Asia Minor in the Balkan Provinces during the Roman Period: The cases of Bithynia and Galatia" (Fulltext)

 

10. Jan Bulas (Jagiellonian University in Kraków)

Inferring the presence of a leprosarium or hospital from the pathologies in the cemetery: Interpreting burials from Byzantine Thebes
There are traces recorded in the archaeological material culture, dated to the late 2nd and early 3rd centuries, uncovered in the area of the Tisa river basin that suggest the migration of the barbarian tribes from the north of the Carpathians. Those migrants are usually connected with the Vandals who are also recorded in the historical sources of the time (Cassius Dio) in that area. While arrival of the new peoples into the region probably took place in the time of the turmoil of the Marcommanic Wars, it seems that not in the long period of time new political and demographical situation resulted in establishing new ties between different ethnic groups inhabiting the not only upper Tisa but wider areas. Strong connections between different cultures are visible in grave inventories of Przeworsk culture, where among others imports Roman weapons are found. Moreover, on the barbarian territory neighbouring the Roman provinces the exact copies of Roman pottery started to be produced. Other finds like the elite graves in the region suggest strong role of the trade and political relations in shaping this new cultural phenomenon. The paper will concentrate on the question how all of those factors influenced peoples who settled the area in the Roman period as well as how influences coming from different directions shaped archaeological culture.

"Trade, Conflict and Politics. Migrants from the North in the Upper Tisa Basin, in the 3rd Century AD" (Fulltext)