Archaeological Theory in Practice

✍ Scribed by Patricia A Urban, Edward Schortman

• Publisher: Left Coast Press
• Year: 2012
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 345
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

In this concise, friendly textbook, Patricia Urban and Edward Schortman teach the basics of archaeological theory, making explicit the crucial link between theory and the actual conduct of archaeological research. The first half of the text addresses the general nature of theory, as well as how it is used in the social sciences and in archaeology in particular. To demonstrate the usefulness of theory, the authors draw from research at Stonehenge, Mesopotamia, and their own long-term research project in the Naco Valley of Honduras. They show how theory becomes meaningful when it is used by very real individuals to interpret equally real materials. These extended narratives exemplify the creative interaction between data and theory that shape our understanding of the past. Ideal for introductory courses in archaeological theory.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
List of Figures and Tables
Preface
Acknowledgments
CHAPTER 1: Theory, Perception, and Explanation: World Views and Science
Introduction
The Power of World Views
Evaluating World Views
The Limits of World Views
Scientific Models of Perceiving, Describing, and Explaining
Theories and World Views
Summary
Further Reading
Case Studies
Theory, General Discussions
Theory, Middle-Range and Analogy
CHAPTER 2: Theories, Perceptions, and Explanations in the Social Sciences
Introduction
Hard Theories, Soft Sciences
Coexisting Theories in Archaeology
Simplification or Distortion in Archaeological Theories
Theories: Fulfilling Their Promises or Self-Fulfilling Prophecies?
Summary
Further Reading
Mesoamerica, General Discussions
Theory, General Discussions
Theory, Middle-Range and Analogy
Theory, Processual
CHAPTER 3: Dimensions of Theory in Archaeology
Introduction
Making a Theory
Causation
Free Will vs. Overpowering Force
Generalizing vs. Particularizing Approaches
Summary
Further Reading
Case Studies Cited in the Text (Non-Archaeological)
Theory, Evolutionary Archaeology
Theory, General Discussions
Theory, Interpretivist
Theory, Marxist
Theory, Practice
CHAPTER 4: Putting Theories Together: Archaeological Schools
Introduction
Culture History
Culture History, Romanticism, and Anthropology
Summary of Culture Historical Premises
Processualism
Modernism
Summary of Processualist Principles
Marxist Archaeology
Summary of Marxist Principles
Interpretivism
Postmodernism in the Social Sciences
Postmodernism in Archaeology
Summary of Interpretivist Principles
The Permeability of Archaeological Schools
Theory and Particular Cases of Practice
Further Reading
Archaeology, Histories
Archaeology, Methods
Archaeology, Settlement Survey
Theory, Culture History
Theory, Evolutionary Archaeology
Theory, Feminist
Theory, General
Theory, Interpretivist
Theory, Marxist
Theory, Processual
CHAPTER 5: Taking on the State in Southern Mesopotamia
Introduction
Southern Mesopotamia
Objects of Biblical Significance
Culture History and the Sumerians
Processualism and the Rise of the State
Cities, Storage, and Power
Processualism and the Expansion of Research Designs
Processualism and the State
Marxism and the State of Power
Seizing Power and Wealth with Class
Expanding the Scope of Analysis: The State, Colonies, and Interregional Exploitation
Interpretivism: Fragmenting the State
Power and Gender
Communication across Theoretical Schools
Further Reading
Mesopotamia, General Discussion
Theory, Interpretivist
Theory, Marxism
Theory, Processual
Theory, World System
CHAPTER 6: Multiple Views of Stonehenge
Stonehenge Today
Antiquaries and Stonehenge
Addressing History in Context
Why Was Stonehenge Built?
Creating Culture through Experiences of the Material
Continuing Contests for Stonehenge
Stonehenge and Identity
Further Reading
Archaeologies, Alternative
Stonehenge, General Discussions
Theory, Interpretivist
Theory, Processual
CHAPTER 7: Culture, History, and Adaptation in the Naco Valley
Introduction
Our Beginnings
Selecting a Research Area
Southeast Mesoamerican Prehistory: A Marginal Matter
Intensified Interest: Southeast Mesoamerican Research in the 1960s–1970s
Setting
Outline of Naco Valley and Mesoamerican Prehistory as Understood in 2011
Developing Our Initial Theory
Summary of Our Overarching Theory
Setting to Work
Problems and Compromises
Interpretations
The Naco Valley, AD 825— As We Saw It in the Early 1980s
Further Reading
Archaeology, Households
Archaeology, Methods
Mesoamerica, General Discussions
Southeast Mesoamerica, General Discussions
CHAPTER 8: Crafting Power in the Late Classic Naco Valley
Introduction
Shifting Conceptual Ground
Applying New Theories to the Naco Valley
Evaluating the Hypothesis
A New Theory Rises from the Ashes of the Old
Grappling with Craft Production
Craftworking Defined
Identifying Production
The Organization of Production
Summary of Our Efforts to Reconstruct the Structure of Ancient Craft Production
Evaluating the Hypothesis, 1990–1991
Where We Stood in 1991
The Naco Valley, AD 825—As of the Early 1990s
Further Reading
Archaeology, Settlement Survey
Naco Valley
Southeast Mesoamerica, General Discussions
Theory, Crafts
Theory, Inter-Societal Interaction and Trade
Theory, Prestige Goods
Theory, World Systems
CHAPTER 9: Practicing Power over Time
Introduction
Hypothesis Testing Continues
Crafting in the Hinterland
Change Over Time and a Return to Chronology
Changing Power Relations at La Sierra
Changing Power Relations among Rural Populations
The Naco Valley in a Regional Context
Shifting Relations among Power, Production, and People
Coping with Diversity
Variation within Sites
Behavioral Variation among Sites
Variations in the Status of Artisans
Wealth Variations among Households
Political Structure and Individual Action
Practice Theory
Our Version of Practice Theory
The Naco Valley, AD 825—As of 2011
Further Reading
Archaeology, Households
Mesoamerica, General Discussions
Naco Valley
Southeast Mesoamerica, General Discussions
Theory, Feminist
Theory, General Discussions
Theory, Marxism
Theory, Practice
CHAPTER 10: Conclusions
Introduction
What Have We Learned about Naco Valley Prehistory?
What Does This Tell Us about the Nature of Archaeological Research?
Seeing What You Expect to See
Seeing beyond Theory’s Expectations
Obstacles to Vision
Sharing Information across Theoretical Divides
Theory and Methods
How Real Are Schools of Thought?
How We Learn and What We Know
Why So Many Theories?
Do Not Be Afraid to Fail
Theory and Communication
What Is Archaeological Truth?
Truth for Whom?
A Few Final Words
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
About the Authors