Symbolic bead exchange and polity interaction in Mahan civilization (c. 100 BCE–300 CE), South Korea

Abstract

Interregional polity interaction in urbanized societies have long been a primary concern for researchers studying state formation and various forms of complexity. The sociopolitical development of Mahan (c. 100 BCE–300 CE) seems to have been intertwined with cooperative exchange networks among peer polities. Mahan elites used beads as means to display social status, to communicate with trading partners (or peers), and to share ideology. The symbolic beading styles display a distinct spatial distribution pattern along with other elite goods, such as mound tombs and ceremonial pottery, which reflect the formation of interaction spheres. Over time, the beads spread from the west coast to the eastern inland, and new regional exchange networks appeared throughout the Mahan area. From this, I propose that the Mahan elites maintained a cooperative networking strategy to promote social stability and legitimize local leadership status as well as reduce conflicts with neighboring polities. Ultimately, interregional polity interaction would have allowed Mahan polities to reduce potential conflicts and enable co-development with surrounding polities without integrated administrative and political systems.