Etruscan Archaeology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Etruscan Archaeology - Essay Example right, particularly in how early its social structure was developed, the origins of the people who inhabited it, and the cultural and technological advancements they made during their independent existence. In recent times, interest in ancient Etruria has increased and the result of this archeological interest has led to greater understanding of the region’s diversity (Witcher 122). For understanding southern European history prior to the 8th century B.C. and beyond, a detailed survey of Etruscan archaeology is required. In general overview, the agriculture of the early- to mid-Etruscan civilization consisted of farms that contributed significantly to a central food and general supply of commodities like cereals, olives, figs, and wool (Barker 782). Before long, farming in the Etruscan state came under extensive regulation, when the economic system and society in general changed into one featuring a number of stratified and complex hierarchies. In addition to farms, roadways (for communication) and heavier equipment became necessary. These changes are clearly evident from the archaeological evidence uncovered at distinctively Etruscan sites (Witcher 102-5). In the case of Etruria, the compound of a new government and a new farming system created what came to be the growth of a system that emphasized difference between the elites and the public (Barker 783). Archaeological evidence regarding such transformations is especially scant, but telling examples like botanical residues at some sites paint a v ibrant picture. Economically, the archeology of the Etruscan civilization is appealing for its possible contribution to an understanding of a pre- or early-Roman economy. Subsistence farming, not at all unlike that seen in the medieval ages, took root in the context of growing state authority. Barker (1988) even claims that surplus animals not consumed for their commercial value were often sacrifice to legitimize â€Å"the authority of the elites amongst the peasantry