Towards an econometrically informed archaeology: the Cologne Tableau (KöTa)

In: Posluschny, A. ; Lambers, K. ; Herzog, I. (Hrsgg.): Layers of Perception. Proceedings of the 35th International Conference on Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology (CAA), Berlin, 2.-6. April, 2007 (Koll. Vor- u. Frühgesch. 10). 2008 372 (Abstract)

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Abstract

Economic archaeology is currently oriented toward either ecological approaches or aspects of handicraft and exchange. The Cologne Tableau is designed to represent total economies as well as different economic sectors for comparative purposes in order to stress the macroeconomic interdependency of production, exchange, and consumption. The tableau displays every imaginable good or service, and it is based on an open monohierarchichal system that assigns positions in the table. As for the actual production, the surpluses, and the demand for goods may be given in the cells of the Tableau. For econometric analyses all the goods must be valued using the same measure of value necessary for covering the demand, regardless of whether it is an amount of money, an expenditure in kilojoules or the hours of work. The latter are used here. A case study of Early Neolithic Linear Pottery economy shows that the female labour force was most likely the key resource of the analysed economic system.