Signs of Supremacy

Archaeology and Sociology of Power

The annual project 2004/05 "Signs of Supremacy" joins perspectives of archaeological and sociological research in a common approach, which links, on the one hand, early visualisations of supreme rule with modern signs of hierarchy in urban agglomerations in Asia, Africa and America and, on the other hand, the representation of globalisation by elites with the asymmetry of early large-scale systems of exchange. The comparison of very early and contemporary structures, modes of representation and motives may indicate historical-anthropological constants, but may also provide surprising insights into both past and present realities. The project with both its sub-projects seeks to build on such insights in order to provide alternatives to the routine discourse on globalisation and the conceptual dialogue of archaeology. It is about world views.