A number of researchers have argued that storage inherently generates surpluses and plays a critical role in the development of socioeconomic inequalities. This has led to archaeological attempts to track and quantify prehistoric storage practices. However, the models used have often been narrowly focused on traditional ecological assumptions, and the evidence used in interpretations has generally been in the form of pit storage or masonry structures. I contend that these approaches have produced flawed reconstructions of past storage and surplus conditions due to the widespread occurrence of storage techniques that leave little archaeological evidence. Indirect ways of monitoring surpluses and storage are probably far more accurate and reliable ways of dealing with these issues. I provide an example from the Near East of how this can be done by estimating the caloric requirements of feasts and prestige items. On the other hand, pit storage and the more archaeologically visible forms of storage can be used to address other interesting questions about past societies involving levels of security, inequalities, and exploitation.

中文翻译：

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存储的考古陷阱

许多研究人员认为，储存本身会产生盈余，并在社会经济不平等的发展中发挥关键作用。这导致了考古学尝试追踪和量化史前储存实践。然而，所使用的模型往往狭隘地集中在传统的生态假设上，解释中使用的证据通常采用坑式储存或砖石结构的形式。我认为，由于几乎没有考古证据的存储技术的广泛使用，这些方法对过去的存储和剩余条件进行了有缺陷的重建。监测过剩和储存的间接方法可能是处理这些问题的更准确和可靠的方法。我提供了一个来自近东的例子，说明如何通过估计宴会和声望物品的热量需求来做到这一点。另一方面，坑式储存和更具有考古意义的储存形式可用于解决有关过去社会的其他有趣问题，包括安全水平、不平等和剥削。