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Archaeology and its Discontents

Why Archaeology Matters
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Archaeology and its Discontents explores the evolution of archaeological theory throughout the twentieth century, critically examining its successes and shortcomings. John C. Barrett argues that the field has overemphasised the explanation of human construction of material variability, advocating instead for a focus on understanding how human diversity is constructed. Using the development of the European Neolithic as a case study, the book emphasises archaeology's crucial role in illuminating human diversity and calls for new methodological approaches.
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Format: Hardback
$34100
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for archaeologists at all career stages, from students to seasoned professionals, as well as scholars interested in the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of archaeology.

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Critically examines the state of archaeology today and its development throughout the twentieth century. It makes a powerful case that understanding how humans have created themselves should be the main purpose of archaeology, and that archaeology matters precisely because of the insights it can offer in this area.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Archaeology and its Discontents examines the state of archaeology today and its development throughout the twentieth century, making a powerful case for new approaches.

Surveying the themes of twentieth-century archaeological theory, Barrett looks at their successes, limitations, and failures. Seeing more failures and limitations than successes, he argues that archaeology has over-focused on explaining the human construction of material variability and should instead be more concerned with understanding how human diversity has been constructed. Archaeology matters, he argues, precisely because of the insights it can offer into the development of human diversity. The analysis and argument are illustrated throughout by reference to the development of the European Neolithic.

Arguing both for new approaches and for the importance of archaeology as a discipline, Archaeology and its Discontents is for archaeologists at all levels, from student to professor and trainee to experienced practitioner.

Series: Themes in Archaeology Series

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  • Archaeology and its Discontents
    Archaeology and its Discontents examines the state of archaeology today and its development throughout the twentieth century, making a powerful case for new approaches. Surveying the themes of twentieth-century archaeological theory, Barrett looks at their successes, limitations, and failures. Seeing more failures and limitations than successes, he argues that archaeology has over-focused on explaining the human construction of material variability...
    Hardback
    $34100
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Praised as a challenging and highly stimulating work, Archaeology and its Discontents is recommended by Mike Pitts of British Archaeology as essential reading. Stratos Nanoglou of the American Journal of Archaeology commends it as a must-read for all archaeologists, while Stephanie Koerner in Antiquity highlights its valuable contribution to debates on archaeological philosophies and its relevance to ecological humanities.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780367560201

Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 31 March 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Routledge

Illustration: 6 Line drawings, black and white; 6 Illustrations, black and white

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 500g

Pages: 180

About the Author

John C. Barrett is Emeritus Professor of Archaeology at the University of Sheffield, having previously taught at the Universities of Leeds and Glasgow. He is the author of Fragments from Antiquity (1994) and co-author, with Michael Boyd, of From Stonehenge to Mycenae (2019). His research has focused upon British and European prehistory and archaeological theory.

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