Social Anthropology in Assyriology: Historiographical, Methodological and Epistemological Considerations

EMANUEL PFOH

París

Congreso; 65th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale «Gods, Kings and Capitals in the Ancient Near East», Paris, 8-12 July, 2019; 2019

International Association of Assyriology / Collège de France

The disciplines of Assyriology and Social Anthropology have not been good conversation partners. If one may synthesize the communication between the two, one could say that Assyriologists have made use of some ethnographic insights in the pre-1960 period as a means of adding some dynamics to social reconstructions based on textual interpretations. Since the 1960s, more sound uses of social anthropology have appeared in Assyriology, notably by studies of the ?School of Rome? (M. Liverani, C. Zaccagnini, F.M. Fales). In its turn, Social Anthropology has traditionally looked at Assyriology for some historical examples of social evolution frameworks and stages (the rise of social complexity, the state, class society, etc.), but in a rather superficial fashion, without a true interdisciplinary drive. This paper, besides offering some general insights on the historical relations of Assyriology and Social Anthropology, presents some guiding perspectives on methodological and epistemological aspects from anthropology that may be of use for Assyriological interpretation.