Research Catalog

Title

Theory in archaeology : a world perspective / edited by Peter J. Ucko.

Publication

London ; New York : Routledge, 1995.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Additional Authors

Ucko, Peter J.

Description

xx, 393 pages : illustrations; 24 cm

Summary

• Theory in Archaeology: a world perspective examines important questions about the diversity in theory and practice in archaeology which are facing the discipline in the 1990s. For example, what is the relationship between theory and practice? How does 'World' archaeological theory differ from 'European' archaeological theory? Is it possible to be a good archaeological practitioner without theory?
• This unique book includes contributions from many different parts of the world - Africa, Indonesia, India, Australia, Canada, South America, Japan, and many other countries - to give the first truly global perspective on archaeological theory. It examines the nature of material culture studies and looks at the problems of ethnicity, regionalism and nationality.
• It also considers one of the fundamental questions in archaeology: whether empirical facts can be found and recorded through 'objective' research, or whether the past is in fact only the relativistic creation of a particular age or society.
• The diverse range of authors brings together very different perceptions of the past and also sheds new light on the dynamics of nationalism, providing a framework for considering such immediate questions as the disintegration of the former Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. The book's scope and interest should guarantee an international readership amongst students and academics alike.

Subject

• Archaeology > Philosophy > Congresses
• Archaeology > Congresses

Note

• "Derives from a conference--flagged as euroTAG--of the Theoretical Archaeology Group, held at Southampton University from the 14th-16th December 1992"--P. [xviii].

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents

• Introduction: archaeological interpretation in a world context / Peter J. Ucko -- 1. Great Zimbabwe and the Lost City: the cultural colonization of the South African past / Martin Hall -- 2. 'The Hun is a methodical chap': reflections on the German tradition of pre- and proto-history / Heinrich Harke -- 3. Theoretical trends in Indonesian archaeology / Daud A. Tanudirjo -- 4. Theory, practice and criticism in the history of Namibian archaeology / John Kinahan -- 5. European encumbrances to the development of relevant theory in African archaeology / Bassey W. Andah -- 6. Theoretical perspectives in Indian archaeology: an historical review / K. Paddayya -- 7. The 'Aboriginalization' of Australian archaeology: the contribution of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies to the indigenous transformation of the discipline / Stephanie Moser -- 8. Prehistory in a multicultural state: a commentary on the development of Canadian archaeology / Quentin Mackie --
• 9. The socio-politics of the development of archaeology in Hispanic South America / Gustavo Politis -- 10. Mixed features of archaeological theory in Brazil / Pedro Paulo A. Funari -- 11. Theoretical underpinnings of Portuguese archaeology in the twentieth century / Vitor Oliveira and Susana Oliveira Jorge -- 12. Theory and practice in Irish archaeology / Gabriel Cooney -- 13. Who possesses Tara?: politics in archaeology in Ireland / Peter C. Woodman -- 14. Archaeological theory in Japan / Hiroshi Tsude -- 15. Archaeology against the state: roots of internationalism / Christopher Evans -- 16. Archaeology in Russia and its impact on archaeological theory / Pavel M. Dolukhanov -- 17. Where are we now?: archaeological theory in the 1990s / Julian Thomas -- 18. French tradition and the central place of history in the human sciences: preamble to a dialogue between Robinson Crusoe and his Man Friday / Laurent Olivier and Anick Coudart.

ISBN

041510677X

LCCN

94027877

OCLC

• 30779373
• ocm30779373
• SCSB-14412244

Owning Institutions

Columbia University Libraries