the physical manifestation of the thought processes behind identity

To understand it requires some prior knowledge of the minds of the individuals with which the material culture is associated

Gender - it has clear and easily recognisable parallels with anthropological discourse and contemporary society

IT has clear and easily recognisable parallels with anthropologial discourse and contemporary society

When material culture is found in association with skeletal evidence

In some ancient societies it appears to have been usual to segregate cemeteries according to sex

iron Age cemeteries from Northern Germany and SOuthern Jutland in the 1st century BC to the 1st century AD

1st cntury BC to first century AD

Northern Germany and Southern Jutland

Brooches, needles, curved knives

Shields, spears swords and long knives

The implications of this for the role of gender in society

WHich artefacts were considered to be of greatest importance to each gender

The values with which each gender was associated

In 16th century Mexico, women are often buried with spindles. Ethnohistorical dicuments support the understanding that weaving was one of the key activities with which Aztec women were associated

(Brumfield, 1991) IN 16th century Mexico, women of a high social status were often buried with spindles - ethnohistorical documents support the idea that weaving was one of the key activities with which Aztec women were associated

(Brumfielld, 1991) 16th century Mexico. Ethnohistorical documents support the idea that weaving was one of the key activities with which Aztec women were associated, especially those of a high status