Seasonality and division of labour: A case study from Neolithic sites in the Khartoum Nile environment

The sites discussed are located in two different micro‐environments in the Khartoum Nile area, and dated to c. 5000 B.P. I shall argue that different locations of the sites are related to season‐specific activities, and that these activities are significantly structured by a division of labour based on sex. The sites are divided into more permanent base sites with an emphasis on cultivation and pottery‐making seen as female activities. It is hypothesized that women played a crucial role in the transition from gathering to plant‐domestication. The smaller dry season sites were occupied for herding, fishing and hunting activities, which are interpreted as performed by men mainly. The archaeological material furthermore indicates that the major flaked lithic production took place here. My argument is that tool‐production generally is male activity.