Archeological and Historical Approaches to Complex Societies: The Islamic States of Medieval Morocco
James L. Boone|J. Emlen Myers|Charles L. Redman
The study of complex societies, especially those with documentary sources, provides an unparalleled opportunity for the archeologist to contribute understanding both past and contemporary society. We argue that available sources early North African state societies can be effectively combined anthropological insight formulate interpretive models derive more meaning from archeological record. illustration we provide comes Islamic Africa. postulate during Medieval period two widely different sociopolitical contexts existed, giving rise diverse urban patterns. Most importantly, second these patterns represents a widespread situation is inadequately treated in literature.
American Anthropologist