Archaeological Theory in Practice

by Patricia A. Urban

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.

Genres: Anthropology

344 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 2011

Reviews

[ALL · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very informative introduction. As someone who tried to read a more advanced text, and then read this one, and then re-read the more advanced text, I realized I had missed a lot of the detail, especially in organization, that is explained in introductory archaeological texts. I was then able to backtrack into my understanding of theories from different social science perspectives and learn how archaeologists pick, choose, and borrow theoretical concepts based on the contexts they are working in. There really is a plethora of theoretical possibilities to make archaeological data more accessible, but it can be a bit frustrating for other social scientists when they learn how archaeologists manipulate theories which are also originating from their own historical contexts. I was lucky in having studied under someone who had fought, effectively, this very real pushback within the historical sciences in particular. I had not known archaeology was a historical discipline where this practice was widely accepted as the norm. It is also a very humble read, reinforcing the reality that archaeology in particular is an academic conversation that is constantly in flux, sometimes at the whim of an undergraduate with a shovel.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book on archaeological theory I have ever read. Great explanations and no tediously long and complicated sentences like most books on theory. READ THIS BOOK.

[Mills College Library]

930.1 A6693 2012