There has been a profound shift in the direction of archaeological activity in the last 15 years. While excavation remains a professional priority, the interpretation of archaeological evidence is now attracting increasing critical study. In part, this stems from the public demand for explanation of archaeological evidence, which moves beyond the more restricted academic debate among archaeologists. But it also follows from a desire among archaeologists to come to terms with their own subjective approaches to the material they study, and a recognition of how past researchers have also imposed...

The new developments in archaeological theory and its application to archaeological data are explored in this text. The author aims to break down the separation of theory and practice and to reconcile the division between the intellectual and the dirt archaeologist. Through a series of examples - from excavation and heritage issues to site reports - the book demonstrates that an interpretive archaeology must be applied to archaeological data in order to contribute to modern social practice. Faced with a rapidly diminishing past, archaeology urgently needs a clear image of itself, able to gain...

This volume provides a forum for debate between varied approaches to the past. The authors, drawn from Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, represent many different strands of archaeology. They address the philosophical issues involved in interpretation and a desire among archaeologists to come to terms with their own subjective approaches to the material they study. The book also recognizes how past researchers have also imposed their own value systems on the evidence which they presented.

This volume presents a searching critique of the more traditional archaeological methodologies and interpretation strategies and lays down a firm philosophical and theoretical basis for symbolist and structuralist studies in archaeology. A variety of procedures, ranging from ethnoarchaeological studies and computing techniques to formal studies of artefact design variability, are utilized to provide models for archaeologists within the proposed framework and the theory and models are then applied to a range of archaeological analyses. This particular approach sees all human actions as being...

The third edition of this classic introduction to archaeological theory and method has been fully updated to address the rapid development of theoretical debate throughout the discipline. Ian Hodder and Scott Hutson argue that archaeologists must consider a variety of perspectives in the complex and uncertain task of "translating the meaning of past texts into their own contemporary language." While remaining centered on the importance of meaning, agency and history, the authors explore the latest developments in post-structuralism, neo-evolutionary theory and phenomenology. Previous Edition...

This provocative introduction examines the most important new school of archaeological thought and practice to have emerged over the last two decades and provides students with an assessment of the impact and importance of recent theoretical debates.

They are essential to every major archaeological excavation but rarely acknowledged by the visiting researchers once the artifacts have been shipped. As part of the innovative, multivocal output from the famous Turkish Neolithic site of Catalhoyuk, we hear from one of the site guards, Sadrettin Dural, who tells the story of the excavation from the point of view of the "Other." He offers tales of the strange habits of archaeologists, describes the local in-fighting that scholars never see, and explains how scientists can be protected from the Yatirs, spirits of the dead who guard the mound....

They are essential to every major archaeological excavation but rarely acknowledged by the visiting researchers once the artifacts have been shipped. As part of the innovative, multivocal output from the famous Turkish Neolithic site of Catalhoyuk, we hear from one of the site guards, Sadrettin Dural, who tells the story of the excavation from the point of view of the "Other." He offers tales of the strange habits of archaeologists, describes the local in-fighting that scholars never see, and explains how scientists can be protected from the Yatirs, spirits of the dead who guard the mound....

This book concentrates on the varying roles and functions that material culture may play in almost all aspects of the social fabric of a given culture. The contributors, from Africa, Australia and Papau New Guinea, India, South America, the USA, and both Eastern and Western Europpe, provide a rich variety of views and experience in a worldwide perspective. Some of the questions examined include: whether all material culture is equivalent to documents which can be read and interpreted by the outside observer; what is the nature of the messages or meanings conveyed in this way?; to what extent...