Archaeology of Sexuality

Moche erotic vessels are often referred to in the literature on anthropology, gender studies and archeology of identity as being among the most important and reliable pieces of evidence of the presence of institutionalized same-sex sexual behavior in prehistoric societies. But are the references made to this example well-founded? The currently available material is exceptionally sparse; the majority of the “homosexual” sex pots have been eliminated from the world’s collections, and the hypotheses to date have mainly been based on far-fetched interpretations of the rare and highly controversial depictions and even modern forgeries. This paper describes the history of research into such representations, analyzes the shortcomings of the hypotheses contained in the literature, and finally presents examples that can actually be interpreted as images of same-sex relationships, which have intentionally or unintentionally been overlooked in research to date.

In recent years, the question of cross-cultural effects on sexual identities under colonial rule became a topic of interests for archaeologists (Voss and Casella 2012; Voss 2008). These works have set the stage for new research in Mediterranean archaeology that probes questions of gender and sexuality in relation to different power dynamics produced through cross-cultural interactions and colonial expansion. Scholars have noted that research on gender and sexuality of the provincial populace is under-theorised and under-studied despite compelling arguments that these are integral to the formation of identities (Joyce 2001; Schmidt and Voss 2000). Others have observed that the physical realities of the ancient world, i.e. architecture, objects, and landscapes, created and maintained the structure of social interactions and gender performances (Severy-Hoven 2102:542; Joshel and Murnaghan 1998:18-20). These works suggest that post-colonial approaches done within the broader context of the Mediterranean world would reveal the complexity, multiplicity and particularity of ancient people, and the nuance of power relations in the physical environment (e.g. Mattingly 2011; Riva and Vella 2006; van Dommelen and Knapp 2010). Moreover, they hint at the wider implications of connections between gender and sexuality to other axes of difference (e.g. class, ethnicity, race, age, and disability).

Interdisciplinary in its scope, this session takes up questions of gender/sexuality within diverse societies of the ancient Mediterranean world, from Prehistory to Roman times. The goal is to present innovative research that is theoretically informed and contextualised in personal and institutionalised forms of gender and sexuality. The session will explore various social discourses through which gender and sexuality are shaped within specific Mediterranean cultural contexts. It aims to instigate a discussion on the ways gender/sexuality studies can be integrated into broader archaeological debates of ancient Mediterranean colonialism, cultural change, relationships of power, and the construction of the material world.

Please submit abstracts by 16th of February 2015 via the EAA website (http://eaaglasgow2015.com/call-for-papers/).

El texto aborda la manera en cómo la transgresión sexual fue simbolizada tanto mítica como iconográficamente en el pensamiento de los antiguos nahuas, señalando a la par ciertas similitudes con otros grupos étnicos. La deformidad, falta de miembros inferiores, el torcimiento del cuerpo y la ceguera fueron atributos de personajes que violaron las normas sexuales cometiendo excesos como adulterios y actos homosexuales. De esta manera, la discapacidad física es consecuencia de la falta sexual, idea que se encuentra en el centro de la moral nahua.