An analysis of household wealth correlates in a Kalinga village

Abstract

In the past two decades, ethnoarchaeological methods have grown in importance because of their unique ability to shed direct light on relationships between material culture patterns and social behavior. Ethnoarchaeological research in extant societies allows archaeologists to observe specific examples of how material culture reflects social behavior. The present study demonstrates the value of economic data to ethnoarchaeological analyses. Data collected in 1987-1988 in the Kalinga village of Dangtalan are analyzed from an economic perspective at the household level. Relative household wealth totals are computed for a sample of 56 Dangtalan households. Correlations are explored between wealth and several pottery variables, and between wealth and architectural variables. Results indicate that pottery and architecture in Dangtalan possess certain patterns which correlate in varying degrees with household wealth. Possible implications for archaeology, and potential problems of application are explored.