the strengths and limits of archaeology - brown university · proposition 4: archaeology as the...

The Strengths and Limits of Archaeology

Data, Methods and Objectives

What are they looking for?What are they looking for?The constitution of the archaeological recordThe constitution of the archaeological record

Epistemology: What do we want Epistemology: What do we want to know and how can we know to know and how can we know

it?it?

Defining the archaeological object Defining the archaeological object and the archaeological subjectand the archaeological subject

How do we go from this….

To this…

And then where?

Proposition 1: Archaeology as the Proposition 1: Archaeology as the study of past culturesstudy of past cultures

Proposition 1: Archaeology as the Proposition 1: Archaeology as the study of past culturesstudy of past cultures

Archaeological cultures (preArchaeological cultures (pre--history)history)Assemblages and culturesAssemblages and culturesThe problem of AnalogyThe problem of AnalogyThe Comparative Project and evolutionary The Comparative Project and evolutionary anthropologyanthropology

Proposition 2: Archaeology as the Proposition 2: Archaeology as the study of Human Historystudy of Human History

Proposition 2: Archaeology as the Proposition 2: Archaeology as the study of Human Historystudy of Human History

Rise and Fall of civilizationsRise and Fall of civilizationsBands, tribes, chiefdoms and statesBands, tribes, chiefdoms and statesSupplement to the written record (text v. Supplement to the written record (text v. object)object)

Proposition 3: Archaeology as the Proposition 3: Archaeology as the study of systemsstudy of systems

Proposition 3: Archaeology as the Proposition 3: Archaeology as the study of systemsstudy of systems

Natural systems v. Cultural systemsNatural systems v. Cultural systemsGeneral laws of cultureGeneral laws of cultureEnvironmental determinismEnvironmental determinismDo people even matter?Do people even matter?

Proposition 4: Archaeology as the Proposition 4: Archaeology as the study of material culturestudy of material culture

Proposition 4: Archaeology as the Proposition 4: Archaeology as the study of material culturestudy of material culture

Object biographiesObject biographiesConsumption and ProductionConsumption and ProductionTechnology studiesTechnology studiesMaterial AnalysisMaterial AnalysisTaphonomyTaphonomyArt history and the study of aesthetics (its Art history and the study of aesthetics (its all about beauty)all about beauty)

So where does this leave us?So where does this leave us?Setting an agenda for Islamic Archaeology and this Setting an agenda for Islamic Archaeology and this

coursecourse

Importance of historical and geographical Importance of historical and geographical contextscontextsRelationship of artifact and textRelationship of artifact and textAvoiding essentialismsAvoiding essentialismsChallenging categoriesChallenging categories