Substances: ‘Following the material’ through two prehistoric cases

A novel approach to studying prehistoric figurines and human effigies reveals their role as material bodies that interact with fleshly ones, linking them to broader aspects of material culture, environment, and political economy. The study advocates for a multi-dimensional research strategy called 'following the material,' which combines material, social, and phenomenological analysis. This method was demonstrated through two case studies: figurines from Çatalhöyük in Turkey and human effigies from the Moche region in Peru. By examining the substances used to create these artifacts and their contexts of production, circulation, and deposition, the research highlights the tight connections between objects in human form, material culture, landscape, and political economy.

Weismantel, M., & Meskell, L. (2014). Substances: ‘Following the material’ through two prehistoric cases. Journal of Material Culture, 19(3), 233–251. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359183514546803