The Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory

Cynthia Eller's 'The Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory' critically examines feminist and archaeological claims that prehistoric societies were universally matriarchal or goddess-centered.

Eller argues that the evidence marshaled for a cohesive 'goddess civilization' is often interpretive and selective, and she cautions against using speculative reconstructions as a basis for contemporary political agendas.

The book traces the intellectual history of the matriarchal myth and analyzes how modern desires for an egalitarian past shape archaeological interpretation.

While controversial among proponents of goddess-centered prehistory, Eller's work is influential in prompting more rigorous standards for linking material culture to social organization.