Concept of «prestige technologies» by Brian Hayden and some problems of social structures of archaic societies

The article is devoted to the concept of «prestige technologies» by canadian anthropologist Brian Hayden (Simon Fraser University, British Columbia), which one including analysis of the leadership and emergence of social inequality in archaic and traditional societies. Author subdivides all objects of material culture into two categories: practical and prestige technologies, last of which reflecting level of development of social hierarchy, forms of the power, and cults and rituals, purpose of both is demonstration of wealth and success. Most important aspects of «prestige technologies» are factors emergence of their, mechanism of functioning, types, action of certain people or group of persons, focused on usurpation of power. Hayden regards «prestige technologies» as necessary condition of genesis and development of social complexity in the transegalitarian societies. On his opinion, symbols of the power appear before the power.