The Invisible Economy - Part 4: Beyond Utility: The Functional, Aesthetic, and Spiritual Dimensions of Reuse in Antiquity
The Invisible Economy: How Ancient Societies Mastered Circularity 1 The Invisible Economy - Part 1: The Ragpicker's Dream: Unearthing the Invisible Agents of the Ancient Scrap Trade 2 The Invisible Economy - Part 2: Recycling at the Highest Levels: Elite Reuse in Imperial Roman and Abbasid Courts 3 The Invisible Economy - Part 3: The Secret Life of Shards: Tracing the Ubiquitous Circularity of Glass and Textiles 4 The Invisible Economy - Part 4: Beyond Utility: The Functional, Aesthetic, and Spiritual Dimensions of Reuse in Antiquity 5 The Invisible Economy - Part 5: Decoding the Data Gap: Unlocking Ancient Circularity through Archaeology and Archives ← Series Home The study of reuse in past societies requires moving beyond simple assumptions of economic necessity, particularly in contexts where ideological or cultural motivations are visibly at play. When materials are repurposed, the driving motivation—or “modality”—of that reuse defines how the object’s original history is integrated into its new life, lending clarity to practices that often appear ambiguous in the archaeological record,. By examining high-status objects and monumental architecture, it becomes clear that reuse was frequently driven by practical function, unachievable aesthetics, or deeply held spiritual beliefs. ...