Five thousand years of inequality in the Carpathian Basin

★

☆

SHARE

Overview

Paper Summary

Conflicts of Interest

Identified Weaknesses

Rating Explanation

Good to know

Topic Hierarchy

File Information

Paper Summary

Paperzilla title

Whoops! Ancient Europe's Rich Didn't Always Get Richer (They Kept Fleeing or Burying Their Stuff)

This archaeological study of the Carpathian Basin over 5000 years challenges the notion that economic inequality inevitably escalated after the introduction of farming. Analyzing house sizes and mortuary wealth, the researchers found that while agriculture increased the potential for inequality, it rarely became widespread or enduring, with communities often employing leveling mechanisms like burying wealth or simply moving away ("voting with their feet").

Possible Conflicts of Interest

None identified

Identified Weaknesses

Gini Coefficient Limitations

The Gini coefficient, while widely used, is acknowledged by the authors as a simplistic measure that does not capture where inequality occurs within a distribution or shifts in wealth concentration over time, potentially oversimplifying complex social structures.

Small Sample Sizes for Gini

Gini calculations can be less reliable with small sample sizes, a condition the authors note for some periods, which could affect the statistical significance of observed trends.

Inconsistent Wealth Proxies

Gini values derived from house sizes and mortuary data represent different forms of wealth and exhibit different persistence properties, making direct comparison and interpretation complex.

Data Gaps

There is a significant gap in data points for all variables between 3800 and ~2000 BCE, which could obscure trends or important developments during this long period.

Apex Site Bias

For the Bronze Age, measurements are primarily from fortified 'apex sites' where the highest degree of inequality would naturally be expected, potentially skewing the representation of inequality for the broader population or region.

Apogee Measurement Bias

Settlement longevity (apogee) calculations are influenced by radiocarbon dating availability and research focus on certain periods (e.g., Early Neolithic), and flatter radiocarbon curves can lead to longer span estimates, potentially impacting the accuracy of duration trends.

Rating Explanation

This is a strong archaeological study that uses a large dataset (110 sites over 5000 years) and multiple metrics to challenge a prevalent theory about the historical development of inequality. The authors are transparent about the limitations of their chosen metrics (like the Gini coefficient and apogee calculations) and the potential biases in their data. The methodology is sound for the field, and the findings offer a nuanced perspective.

Good to know

This is our free standard analysis. Paperzilla Pro fact-checks every citation, researches author backgrounds and funding sources, and uses advanced AI reasoning for more thorough insights.

Explore Pro →