Abstract
The spatial division of cities into residential zones is a universal feature of urban life from the earliest cities to the present. I propose a two-level classification of such zones that archaeologists can use to analyze preindustrial cities. Neighborhoods are small areas of intensive face-to-face social interaction, whereas districts are larger areas that serve as administrative units within cities. I review comparative historical data on neighborhoods and districts and outline archaeological methods for their identification and analysis. Illustrative cases are drawn from Mesopotamia and Mesoamerica, and I conclude with a review of the major top-down and bottom-up social forces that generate and shape neighborhoods and districts in preindustrial cities.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 137-154 |
Number of pages | 18 |
Journal | Journal of Anthropological Archaeology |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2010 |
Keywords
- Cities
- Communities
- Comparative analysis
- Districts
- Neighborhoods
- Urbanism
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Human Factors and Ergonomics
- Archaeology
- History
- Archaeology