This thesis explores those processes which led to the creation and definition of social groups among the inhabitants of what was later to become the territory of Classical Lakonia. Its chronological focus is the early period of Spartan state formation (ca. 1200-600 BC, and especially the latter part of this period from 800-600 BC), and emphasis is placed on cult and ritual practice, especially the material record of sanctuaries. Emphasis on the sanctuary record reflects the fact that the extant evidence in the case of Lakonia comes almost exclusively from sanctuaries where one would expect people to make statements about themselves and their community[ies]. The aim is to define the theoretical framework built around the formation and function of the Spartan state in its early stages- a framework delimited by existing theoretical discussions of the different social groups within Lakonia. The relationship between this framework and the way/s in which the extant archaeological evidence has been a assessed to date will then be assessed critically. Both the framework and the material evidence are examined in their own terms. Rather than using established historical notions to interpret the existing literary and archaeological evidence,these notion are themselves tested against the existing data, both literary and archaeological.