The Death of Archaeological Theory?

The Death of Archaeological Theory?
Author: John L. Bintliff
Publisher: Oxbow Insights in Archaeology
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2011
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 9781842174463

The Death of Archaeological Theory? addresses the provocative subject of whether it is time to discount the burden of somewhat dogmatic theory and ideology that has defined archaeological debate and shaped archaeology over the last 25 years. Seven chapters meet this controversial subject head on, also assessing where archaeological theory is now, and future directions. John Bintliff questions what theory is and argues that archaeologists should be freed from 'Ideopraxists', or those who preach that a single approach or model is right to the exclusion of all others. Marc Pluciennik again questions what we mean by archaeological theory and argues that the role of intellectual fashion is underestimated. He predicts pressure from outside archaeology to redirect our dominant theories towards genetic and human impact theory. Kristian Kristiansen argues that theory cannot die, but it can change direction and sees signs of a retreat from the present postmodern and postprocessual cycle towards a more science based, rationalistic cycle of revived modernity. To Mark Pearce the most striking thing about the present state of archaeological theory is that there is no emerging paradigm to be discerned; he proposes that Theory is not dead, but has instead become more eclectic and nuanced. Two papers offer a different perspective from other areas of the world; Alexander Gramsch examines the issue from the German tradition and shows that in Central and Eastern Europe not only has Anglo-American Theory had limited impact, but current discussions on the future of method and theory offer a broader view of the discipline in which older traditions are seen to form the foundation. Kent Flannery and Joyce Marcus demonstrate that American archaeologists do not foresee the death of a genuinely archaeological theory (which they believe has never existed) but fear the real catastrophe would be the death of anthropological theory, because some anthropology today has become decidedly antiscientific, rejecting not only the controlled comparison and contrast of cultures, but also the use of generalization, both of which are crucial to theories and models and without which the longue durée will always be invisible.

Death by Theory

Death by Theory
Author: Adrian Praetzellis
Publisher: Rowman Altamira
Total Pages: 200
Release: 2011-01-16
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0759119597

This thoroughly updated version of an archaeological classic, featuring the fictional archaeologist Hannah Green and her shovelbum nephew, allows students to learn the basics of archaeological theory while puzzling out a mysterious turn of events.

Archaeological Theory and the Politics of Cultural Heritage

Archaeological Theory and the Politics of Cultural Heritage
Author: Laurajane Smith
Publisher: Psychology Press
Total Pages: 280
Release: 2004
Genre: Art
ISBN: 9780415318327

This is a much-needed survey of how relationships between indigenous peoples and the archaeological establishment have got into difficulties, and a pointer towards how things could move forward.

Handbook of Archaeological Theories

Handbook of Archaeological Theories
Author: R. Alexander Bentley
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 598
Release: 2008
Genre: Archaeology
ISBN: 0759100322

This handbook, a companion to the authoritative Handbook of Archaeological Methods, gathers original, authoritative articles from leading archaeologists on all aspects of the latest thinking about archaeological theory. It is the definitive resource for understanding how to think about archaeology.

The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology of Death and Burial

The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology of Death and Burial
Author: Sarah Tarlow
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Total Pages: 921
Release: 2013-06-06
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0191650390

The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology of Death and Burial reviews the current state of mortuary archaeology and its practice, highlighting its often contentious place in the modern socio-politics of archaeology. It contains forty-four chapters which focus on the history of the discipline and its current scientific techniques and methods. Written by leading, international scholars in the field, it derives its examples and case studies from a wide range of time periods, such as the middle palaeolithic to the twentieth century, and geographical areas which include Europe, North and South America, Africa, and Asia. Combining up-to-date knowledge of relevant archaeological research with critical assessments of the theme and an evaluation of future research trajectories, it draws attention to the social, symbolic, and theoretical aspects of interpreting mortuary archaeology. The volume is well-illustrated with maps, plans, photographs, and illustrations and is ideally suited for students and researchers.

The Archaeology of Death

The Archaeology of Death
Author: Robert Chapman
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 176
Release: 1981-10-22
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 9780521237758

This volume brings together studies on the disposal of the dead and the archaeological research potential of found remains.

Dug to Death

Dug to Death
Author: Adrian Praetzellis
Publisher: AltaMira Press
Total Pages: 245
Release: 2003-08-04
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0759116113

Dr. Hannah Green—heroine of Praetzellis's textbook-as-novel Death by Theory—has really gotten herself into trouble this time. The spunky archaeologist has been asked to manage the contract archaeology project at a historic site in New Zealand when the regular archaeological staff of University of Invercargill abruptly dies off. On the scene, Hannah discovers she needs to teach her team about research design, survey methods, archival research, professional ethics, curation, and especially field safety, if they are to complete the contract before young Mr. Wallace levels the site in favor of a golf course. With a cast of characters that includes Missy-Jojo-the-Dog-Faced-Girl as lab supervisor, erotic romance writer and field volunteer Elena Solara, the ghost of socialite Bunny Wallace, and shovelbum Rusty Spittle, Praetzellis' brief textbook-as-novel introduces students to the hows and whys of field methodology in an entertaining but informative way. Ideal for your introductory archaeology classes and probably the only textbook you'll enjoy reading yourself.

The Archaeology of Death and Burial

The Archaeology of Death and Burial
Author: Mike Parker Pearson
Publisher: The History Press
Total Pages: 510
Release: 2021-09-03
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0750999039

The archaeology of death and burial is central to our attempts to understand vanished societies. Through the remains of funerary rituals we can learn not only about the attitudes of prehistoric people to death and the afterlife, but also about their way of life, their social organisation and their view of the world. This ambitious book reviews the latest research in this huge and important field, and describes the sometimes controversial interpretations that have led to rapid advances in our understanding of life and death in the distant past. A unique overview and synthesis of one of the most revealing fields of research into the past, it covers archaeology's most breathtaking discoveries, from Tutankhamen to the Ice Man, and will find a keen market among archaeologists, historians and others who have a professional interest in, or general curiosity about, death and burial.

The Public Archaeology of Death

The Public Archaeology of Death
Author: Howard Williams
Publisher: Equinox Publishing (UK)
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2019
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 9781781795934

Foreword / Jodie Lewis -- Dead relevant : introducing the public archaeology of death / Howard Williams -- The St Patrick's Chapel excavation project : public engagement with the rescue excavation of an early medieval cemetery in south west Wales / Marion Shiner, Katie A. Hemer and Rhiannon Comeau -- Death's diversity : the case of Llangollen Museum / Suzanne Evans and Howard Williams -- Displaying the deviant : Sutton Hoo's Sand people / Madeline Walsh and Howard Williams -- Grave expectations : burial posture in popular and museum representations / Sian Mui -- Photographing the dead : images in public mortuary archaeology / Chiara Bolchini -- Death on canvas : artistic reconstructions in Viking age mortuary archaeology / Leszek Gardeła -- Envisioning cremation : art and archaeology / Aaron Watson and Howard Williams -- Controversy surrounding human remains from the First World War / Sam Munsch -- Here lies "ZOMBIESLAYER2000", may he rest in pieces : mortuary archaeology in MMOS, MMORPGS, and MOBAS / Rachael Nicholson -- Death's drama : mortuary practice in Vikings season 1-4 / Howard Williams -- Afterword / Karina Croucher

Archaeologists and the Dead

Archaeologists and the Dead
Author: Howard Williams
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 486
Release: 2016
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 0198753535

This volume addresses the relationship between archaeologists and the dead, through the many dimensions of their relationships: in the field (through practical and legal issues), in the lab (through their analysis and interpretation), and in their written, visual and exhibitionary practice--disseminated to a variety of academic and public audiences. Written from a variety of perspectives, its authors address the experience, effect, ethical considerations, and cultural politics of working with mortuary archaeology. Whilst some papers reflect institutional or organizational approaches, others are more personal in their view: creating exciting and frank insights into contemporary issues that have hitherto often remained "unspoken" among the discipline. Reframing funerary archaeologists as "death-workers" of a kind, the contributors reflect on their own experience to provide both guidance and inspiration to future practitioners, arguing strongly that we have a central role to play in engaging the public with themes of mortality and commemoration, through the lens of the past. Spurred by the recent debates in the UK, papers from Scandinavia, Austria, Italy, the US, and the mid-Atlantic, frame these issues within a much wider international context that highlights the importance of cultural and historical context in which this work takes place.