The Politics of Storage

Storage and Sociopolitical Complexity in Neopalatial Crete

by Kostandinos S. Christakis

Book cover: The Politics of Storage

Extent: 256 pages

Publisher: INSTAP Academic Press

Subjects: European Prehistory, Mediterranean Archaeology

Series: Prehistory Monographs

Series volume number: 25

Language: English

Hardback (Published)

(August 2008)

ISBN: 9781931534505

Price: $95.00

In stock

PDF (Published)

(August 2008)

ISBN: 9781623030124

Price: $56.00

The storage of staples and its importance for the functioning of Cretan Bronze Age society has become an active topic of debate. This study reassesses the intrinsic relationship between storage and sociopolitical complexity by combining testimonies on the storage of staples from palatial, nonpalatial elite, and ordinary domestic contexts.


The storage of staples and its importance for the functioning of Cretan Bronze Age society has become an active topic of debate. This study reassesses the intrinsic relationship between storage and sociopolitical complexity by combining testimonies on the storage of staples from palatial, nonpalatial elite, and ordinary domestic contexts dated to the LM I period. The main goals are (1) to examine a wide range of information concerned with the storage of staples; (2) to develop a comprehensive model to explain how storage strategies operate within LM I societies; and (3) to infer sociopolitical and socio-economic levels of interaction among the different social sectors operating within LM I societies (mainly LM IB societies).

  • By (author) Kostandinos S. Christakis