Archaeometry and materiality: materials based analysis in theory and practice
Archaeometry and materiality: materials based analysis in theory and practice
Due to the diversity of contemporary archaeology, the aims and approaches of archaeological scientists and archaeological theorists are often at odds. I suggest that this position is problematic, both intellectually and methodologically, as both groups are fundamentally engaged in the same task: an understanding of past societies through the medium of material culture.
This paper offers a review of the intellectual positions of both groups, with a brief discussion of the history of archaeological theory and an appraisal of its current trajectory. I will discuss how and why contemporary theoretical perspectives have fundamentally diverged from the perspectives of archaeological scientists and how the recent theoretical emphasis upon materiality offers a rapprochement between theoreticians and archaeological scientists.
archaeological science, theoretical archaeology, post-processualism, linguistic metaphors, materiality, embedded technologies, performance characteristics, colour symbolism
327-338
Jones, A.
3e8becff-0d46-42eb-85db-2dd4f07e92a3
2004
Jones, A.
3e8becff-0d46-42eb-85db-2dd4f07e92a3
Abstract
Due to the diversity of contemporary archaeology, the aims and approaches of archaeological scientists and archaeological theorists are often at odds. I suggest that this position is problematic, both intellectually and methodologically, as both groups are fundamentally engaged in the same task: an understanding of past societies through the medium of material culture.
This paper offers a review of the intellectual positions of both groups, with a brief discussion of the history of archaeological theory and an appraisal of its current trajectory. I will discuss how and why contemporary theoretical perspectives have fundamentally diverged from the perspectives of archaeological scientists and how the recent theoretical emphasis upon materiality offers a rapprochement between theoreticians and archaeological scientists.
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Published date: 2004
Keywords:
archaeological science, theoretical archaeology, post-processualism, linguistic metaphors, materiality, embedded technologies, performance characteristics, colour symbolism
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Local EPrints ID: 28781
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/28781
ISSN: 0003-813X
PURE UUID: 34037a25-47df-49cb-a12a-98475df154dd
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Date deposited: 08 May 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 07:27
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