Bibliograph

Archaeological theory, who sets the agenda?, edited by Norman Yoffee and Andrew Sherratt

Type

Label

Archaeological theory, who sets the agenda?, edited by Norman Yoffee and Andrew Sherratt

Language

eng

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

Archaeological theory

Medium

electronic resource

Nature of contents

dictionaries

Oclc number

715165968

Responsibility statement

edited by Norman Yoffee and Andrew Sherratt

Series statement

New directions in archaeologyCambridge Social Sciences eBooks

Sub title

who sets the agenda?

Summary

This volume assesses the real achievements of archaeology in increasing an understanding of the past. Without rejecting the insights either of traditional or more recent approaches, it considers the issues raised in current claims and controversies about what is appropriate theory for archaeology. The first section looks at the process of theory building and at the sources of the ideas employed. The following studies examine questions such as the interplay between expectation and evidence in ideas of human origins, social role and material practice in the formation of the archaeological record, and how the rise of states should be conceptualised; further papers cover issues of ethnoarchaeology, visual symbols, and conflicting claims to ownership of the past. The conclusion is that archaeologists need to be equally wary of naive positivism in the guise of scientific procedure, and of speculation about the unrecorded intentions of prehistoric actors.--, Provided by publisher

Table Of Contents

Part I: The social Context of Archaeological Theory -- Part II: Archaeological Theory From The Palaeolithic to The State -- Part III: Case Studies in Archaeological Theory and Practice -- Part IV: Epilogue390954

Contributor

Subject

Content