Foreword of the series editorsAcknowledgementsChapter 1: Introduction1.1 Definition of social inequality1.2 Emergence and persistence of inequality1.3 Social inequality in the prehistory of Europe and the Carpathian BasinChapter 2: The environmental and archaeological setting2.1 The natural environment and climate history2.2 Chronology and archaeological cultures2.2.1 Cultural groups of the Neolithic2.2.2 The cultural groups of the Copper Age2.2.3 The cultural groups of the Bronze Age2.2.3.1 Great Pannonian Plain and Transdanubia2.3.3.2 Little Pannonian PlainChapter 3: Data3.1 Data selection3.2 Data acquisition and database3.2.1 Cemetery/Site3.2.2 Grave3.2.2.1 Grave dimension3.2.2.2 Cemetery phases3.2.3 Burial3.2.3.1 Degree of Disturbance3.2.3.2 Anthropological sex and age3.2.4 Inventory3.2.5 IsotopesChapter 4: Methodology4.1 Structure of the analysis4.2 Assumptions4.3 Methods of the analyses4.3.1 Object classes4.3.2 Social index4.3.3 Segments of society4.3.3.1 Giniall index4.3.3.2 Ginilow index4.3.3.3 Giniupper and Shareupper4.3.4 Gini index and Lorenz curve4.3.5 Generalized Entropy Measures4.3.6 Standard errors and confidence intervals of the Gini index4.3.7 Correlation coefficients4.3.8 Descriptive analysis4.3.8.1 Linear trend4.3.8.2 LOESS regression4.3.8.3 Boxplots4.3.9 Significance testing4.3.9.1 Comparison of median inequality measures between time groups and single sites4.3.9.2 Variance in inequality measures between time groups4.3.10 Chronological determinations4.3.11 Effect and sample size4.3.12 Analysis of quantity of grave goods, site size, material types, functional object groups and social inequalityChapter 5: Results and implications of the analysis5.1 Measures of inequality: Statistical characteristics, correlations and limitations5.1.1 General presentation of the individual Gini indices5.2 General presentation of the individual Generalized Entropy Measures and the Shareupper5.3 Correlations of the applied inequality measures5.4 Boundaries of the analysis: Statistical significance, effect size and sample size5.5 Trends in the development of inequality: Linear regression analysis5.6 Trends in the development of inequality: The range of inequality measures5.7 Temporal dynamics of inequality: LOESS regression analysis5.7.1 First Meander: from 5200 to 3750 BCE5.7.2 Second Meander: from 2100 to 1000 BCE5.8 Inequality, social index and the quantity of grave goods5.9 Distribution of the social index5.10 Site size and inequality5.11 Technology, resource access and inequality5.11.1 Excursus: Craftsmen, warrior or hunter gravesChapter 6: Discussion6.1 A development of social inequality?6.2 A growing range of social inequalities6.3 Methodological issues: Sample sizesChapter 7: Conclusion and Outlook7.1 Analysing the development of social inequality7.2 Investigating the development of wealth-based segments7.3 Contributing to methodological development7.4 Discussing observations in relation to economic, environmental, and social processesSummarySummary in GermanReferencesAppendicesAppendix A: Cemetery/Site catalogueAppendix B: Object classesAppendix C: Results of the significance testsResults of the Wilcoxon test between three chronological groupsResults of the Levene test between three chronological groupsR-CodesAppendix D: MapsAppendix E: Lorenz curvesDatabase and Supplements (online)This dissertation investigates the dynamics of social inequality in the Carpathian Basin between the Late Neolithic and the Middle/Late Bronze Age (5200–1000 BCE) through a quantitative analysis of burial contexts. Employing statistical methods, including Gini indices and Generalized Entropy Measures, the study evaluates the extent, development, and underlying factors of inequality within prehistoric societies.Key findings reveal a complex, cyclical pattern of inequality, challenging the notion of linear progression. While the overall mean levels of inequality show no consistent long-term increase or decrease, a significant broadening of inequality ranges is evident. This suggests increased societal diversification, with some communities maintaining egalitarian structures while others exhibited pronounced stratification. The research highlights that these disparities were likely driven by factors such as societal size, technological advancements, resource distribution, and cultural practices. A focused examination of wealth-based societal segments uncovers divergent trends: A slight equalisation among less wealthy societal segments contrasts with a marked concentration of wealth within wealthy groups. This work underscores the interplay of social, cultural, and material developments in shaping prehistoric inequality, providing a foundational framework for further exploration into the dynamics of past societies.