Matriarchal and patriarchal societies

Hello,

I'd like to show how I explain to myself the coexistence of the following facts:

1. Ethnographical data: tribes of hunter-gatherers (at least nomadic) are "bilateral", i.e. people of both sexes are equal.

2. Archaeological and mythological data: matriarchal societies are typical for archaic agricultural (Neolithic) groups .

3. Ethnographical, mythological, historical data: patriarchal societies typical for
(a) well developed communities, where the state has been or is going to be established (since the Bronze Age)
(b) societies of fishermen and sea hunters
(c) herding societies

Everything seems to be clear with the 1st position. The contribution of men and women of nomadic hunter-gatherers tribes is more
or less equal and such a state of affairs looks natural.

When people passed the "Neolitic revolution" they didn't give up their traditional occupations, especially hunting. So men (or
many of them) kept on hunting and spending time somewhere out of home. For them almost nothing really changed. All the really
revolutionary changes (excepting probably only building construction) touched the female sphere of activity - hoe agriculture,
homeside (not pastoral yet!) levestock breeding, pottery making (until in millenia pottery wheel is invented and professional
potters appear), weaving etc. All the advantages of the Neolithic way of life were provided by women. (And invented by them ?)
Add to this the way of life in large clan houses. Men were outsiders. Man's life was considerably shorter. A man even didn't
know, which child is his own. His the most close relatives of the next generation were sister's children. Everybody knew her/his
mother and only guessed who might be the father. Could such a society be a patriarchal one?

Quite different situation takes place in those societies where main sources of food are either sea fishing and hunting (in an
environment not suitable for farming) or nomadic pastoralism (in an environment where such kind of stock breeding is more
effective than homeside one and agriculture). Both these variants are not women's business - women are too weak. Everything
depends here on man's success. A widow hardly can survive without kinsmen help. The wealth of a single family (not of a large
clan) is gained by the man, controlled by him, and will be inherited by his son.

Another way for patriarchal system to win is just progressive development of traditional societies. As soon as military force
becomes important for surviving or flourishing of a community, men acquire the leading position. When states were established
the role of men increased more.

Alexander