Riva & Vella/Debating Orientalization, 9. The Orientalizing Phenomenon

This chapter focuses on the way in which recent insights regarding situations of culture contact can be used to understand Orientalization. The notion of 'cultural hybridity' is considered an important feature of this debate. The chapter further focuses on the notion of cultural hybridity, its theoretical background and recent usage in postcolonial studies. It also discusses the archeological relevance of this concept in general, with particular reference to classical Sardinia. Finally, it questions whether the Orientalizing phenomenon can be understood as a case of cultural hybridity, using Iron Age Sardinia as a case study.