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Ms Jo Zalea Matias
(email at j.z.b.matias@durham.ac.uk)
Research Topic
Beyond the Warrior and the Maiden: Gendered Identities in Western Iron Age Europe
Abstract
Wife, mother, queen, warrior, king, protector – such images, encapsulated in icons from Boudica to the statue of the Dying Gaul from Pergamum have been integral to visions of Iron Age Europe. Though the period has not been defined or seen as such, such images have rendered it inherently gendered. While gender studies have been examined in archaeology, anthropology, and sociology, the nature and construction of gendered identities have rarely been considered in European Iron Age archaeology. Existing studies associate gender with women, neglecting the fluidity of gender identity beyond sex and ignoring its connection with other aspects of identity. Additionally, classical depictions of Iron Age people continue to mould perceptions of uniform “Celtic” genders both past and present. The enduring influence of 19th and 20th century attitudes towards gender roles has created simplistic social models of the period, emphasizing the need for clearer concepts of gender identities. Through a multidisciplinary incorporating osteological and archaeological evidence, classical sources, and anthropological and sociological approaches, this dissertation will use Iron Age Europe as a lens through which to re-conceptualize our approaches to gender identities within archaeology and beyond.
Other activities
Co-coordinator for the 2011 Iron Age Research Student Seminar at Durham University