Community is Cult, Cult is Community: Weaving the Web of Meanings for the Chalcolithic

A critical reassessment of ritual behavior and its socio-economic implications during the Chalcolithic period in the Southern Levant reveals that while archaeological evidence of cultic activities has grown significantly, existing interpretations remain largely unchallenged. This study addresses the 'mid-level theory gap' by synthesizing data from key sites—Gilat, En Gedi, and Teleilat Ghassul—to propose new frameworks for understanding how communities experienced and participated in ritual practices. It challenges traditional assumptions about material culture and cultural theory, urging a more nuanced approach to interpreting Chalcolithic socio-economic complexity.

Lovell, J. L. (2010). Community is Cult, Cult is Community: Weaving the Web of Meanings for the Chalcolithic. Paléorient, 36(1), 103–122. https://doi.org/10.3406/paleo.2010.5313