Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (461 page)
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Authors: Timothy Darvill
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myth
[De].
[De].
A narrative organizing data such as beliefs about transcendental powers, the origins of the universe, social institutions, or the history of the people. Viewed in functional terms myths serve to record and present the moral system whereby contemporary attitudes and actions are ordered and validated.
mythology
[Ge].
[Ge].
The study of religious or heroic legends and tales that seem incredible and which were created by particular communities as
MYTHS
. One constant rule of mythology is that whatever happens amongst the gods or other mythical beings was in one sense or another a reflection of events on earth: as Emile Durkheim emphasized, god is another name for society, for humans make their god in their own image. Thus recorded myths and legends, perhaps preserved in literature or folklore, have an immediate interest to archaeology in trying to unravel the nature and meaning of ancient events and traditions.
MYTHS
. One constant rule of mythology is that whatever happens amongst the gods or other mythical beings was in one sense or another a reflection of events on earth: as Emile Durkheim emphasized, god is another name for society, for humans make their god in their own image. Thus recorded myths and legends, perhaps preserved in literature or folklore, have an immediate interest to archaeology in trying to unravel the nature and meaning of ancient events and traditions.
N
Nabataeans
[CP].
[CP].
A nomadic population speaking a Semitic language occupying the region of Tayma and Madain Salih, first attested in the annals of the Assyrian King Ashurbanipal in the mid 7th century
bc
. By the early 6th century
bc
they had established a kingdom south and east of Edom, ancient Midian, on a trade route between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. The Nabataeans infiltrated Edom and forced the Edomites into southern Palestine. They made
PETRA
, Jordan, their capital
c.
312 bc, but they also controlled Bosra, Damascus, and many other towns at the height of their power.
A notable achievement of Nabataean technology was their elaborate network for water collection, storage, and distribution in their cities, as well as for agricultural use throughout the kingdom. Nabataean fineware pottery, both plain and painted, was locally produced and is amongst the finest ceramics produced in the Middle East up to that time. Their mining, processing, and manufacturing of iron, copper, bronze, lead, gold, and silver objects were on a par with the rest of the Roman world.
The Aramaic-speaking Nabataeans created a new writing form, a running cursive or semi-ligatured script which was used for both lapidary inscriptions and graffiti. This later evolved into the Arabic writing still in use today.
In 64–63 bc the Nabataean kingdom was conquered by the Romans under Pompey, but it remained independent while paying imperial taxes. The kingdom was finally annexed by the Romans under Trajan in ad 106 to become
Provincia Arabia Petraea
.
bc
. By the early 6th century
bc
they had established a kingdom south and east of Edom, ancient Midian, on a trade route between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. The Nabataeans infiltrated Edom and forced the Edomites into southern Palestine. They made
PETRA
, Jordan, their capital
c.
312 bc, but they also controlled Bosra, Damascus, and many other towns at the height of their power.
A notable achievement of Nabataean technology was their elaborate network for water collection, storage, and distribution in their cities, as well as for agricultural use throughout the kingdom. Nabataean fineware pottery, both plain and painted, was locally produced and is amongst the finest ceramics produced in the Middle East up to that time. Their mining, processing, and manufacturing of iron, copper, bronze, lead, gold, and silver objects were on a par with the rest of the Roman world.
The Aramaic-speaking Nabataeans created a new writing form, a running cursive or semi-ligatured script which was used for both lapidary inscriptions and graffiti. This later evolved into the Arabic writing still in use today.
In 64–63 bc the Nabataean kingdom was conquered by the Romans under Pompey, but it remained independent while paying imperial taxes. The kingdom was finally annexed by the Romans under Trajan in ad 106 to become
Provincia Arabia Petraea
.
NAGPRA
[Ab].
[Ab].
Nagyrév Culture
[CP].
[CP].
First phase of the Hungarian Bronze Age dating to the later 3rd millennium
bc
, the local successor of the Vucedol-Zok group and precursor of
HATVAN
and Fuzesabony cultures. Most settlements of this period are
TELLS
surrounded by enclosing banks and ditches. Timber-framed houses are used at some sites, but mud-brick structures with internal partitions are also known. The main style of pottery is the one- or two-handled cup with a tall funnel neck that is made in a black burnished ware. Burials are mainly in urned cremations and grave goods are rare.
bc
, the local successor of the Vucedol-Zok group and precursor of
HATVAN
and Fuzesabony cultures. Most settlements of this period are
TELLS
surrounded by enclosing banks and ditches. Timber-framed houses are used at some sites, but mud-brick structures with internal partitions are also known. The main style of pottery is the one- or two-handled cup with a tall funnel neck that is made in a black burnished ware. Burials are mainly in urned cremations and grave goods are rare.
Nahua
[CP].
[CP].
General term for a succession of societies occupying central Mexico, the latest of which were
AZTECS
.
AZTECS
.
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