Regional Economic Integration in Early State Societies: Third Millennium B.C. Pastoral Production at Gritille, Southeast Turkey

Abstract

This paper uses faunal remains from the third millennium B.C. village site of Gritille in southeast Turkey to study productive specialization in early state societies. The degree of specialization in rural pastoral production reflects the extent of village integration within larger regional economic systems. Ethnographic and archaeological studies suggest several models of expected herd composition under different forms of generalized and specialized pastoral production. The Gritille caprine remains match the patterns expected under generalized herding strategies and rural economic autonomy. Poorly integrated regional economies of this type may be characteristic of small-scale or primitive state societies in the early stages of development.