Archaeology, luxury and the exotic: the examples of Islamic Gao (Mali) and Bahrain

Luxury would appear to be both difficult to define and difficult to identify archaeologically. Evidence from two different Islamic communities in Gao (Mali) and Bilad al-Qadim (Bahrain) indicates that the recognition of the exotic rather than the luxurious is easier to achieve. The notion of luxury within these communities is reflected in culinary skill and preparation, and in communal dining, rather than in the categories of evidence which the archaeologist might more easily recognize as indicators of luxury.

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