From Stonehenge to Las Vegas: Archaeology As Popular Culture

by Cornelius Holtorf

Indiana Jones. Lara Croft. Archaeologist as folk hero, detective, treasure hunter. The meaning of things below the surface. The life history of Stonehenge. Las Vegas' Luxor Hotel. Copies of artifacts as contemporary kitch. The connections between archaeology and contemporary culture are endless. Cornelius Holtorf merges archaeological and cultural theory to take readers on an erudite tour of these intersections, using wide-ranging examples and compelling images to support his often controversial theses. Deliberately blurring the borders between past people and present meanings , this ambitious project seeks no less than the redefinition of the term "archaeology." Equal parts amusing, infuriating, and provocative, this work will interest students and teachers in archaeology, anthropology, cultural studies and human geography, as well as professionals in heritage management and museums.

Genres: Nonfiction, Archaeology

198 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Cici La · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book about archeology, written more in the academic style. I have never studied archeology and I got some sense of the field from reading this, but not really an introduction for a beginner. Also, I think the title is a bit misleading, halfway through the book and Las Vegas was only barely mentioned. Altogether I think the writing style was a bit too passive, it felt like reading essays someone had to write for school rather than an exciting, attention-grabbing book.

[Tiina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holtorf haastaa ajattelemaa uudella tavalla arkeologian tehtävästä ja kulttuuriperinnön suojelusta. Vaikken yhdykään täysin hänen näkemyksiinsä, ne saivat pienet rattaat pyörimään aivoissa.

Lainaus: "Archaeology is mainly about our own culture in the present." "In some cases much can be gained from effectively destroying an ancient site." "Archaeological sites mean very different things to different people, and these meanings are equally important."

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoughtful and wide-ranging study of popular views and uses of archeology.

[A Mig · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought provoking postmodernist thesis on archaeology, linking this field of research to popular culture and defining archaeological sites/artefacts as some renewable resource. I didn't learn much while reading the first 2-3 chapters but it became more interesting later on (e.g., about Mark Dion's art relating to the collecting process, anecdotes about the meaning of authenticity in the sale of antiquities and during site visits...). Should be of interest to anyone curious about new perspectives on archaeology, treasure hunts/monuments in pop culture, & the collecting process. An easy and quick read.