Problems in theorising an archaeology of ritual: the Aegean case

"...THE CENTRAL PROBLEM: The central problem is that one is seeking to understand the influence and effects of a belief system which one can study only indirectly. The belief system is internal to the individual in society and is shared by individuals within the society so that it may be regarded as a collective belief system, although no-doubt with variations among groups and individuals within the society. The belief system influences behaviour (and is probably not of very great significance if it does not indeed do so). The problem for the archaeologist is first to find the material traces of that behaviour, and second to make inferences as to which aspects of that behaviour are indicative of the belief system. That is a complex undertaking, especially since symbolic features of behaviour may be embedded within practices which are in part purely functional and utilitarian..."