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Is archaeology an art or a science? This question has been hotly debated over the last few decades with the rise of archaeological science. At the same time, archaeologists have seen a change in the intellectual character of their discipline, as many writers have adopted approaches influenced by social theory. The discipline now encompasses both archaeological scientists and archaeological theorists, and discussion regarding the status of archaeology remains polarised. In this 2001 book, Andrew Jones argues that we need to analyse the practice of archaeology. Through an analysis of archaeological practice, influenced by recent developments in the field of science studies, and with the aid of extensive case studies, he develops a new framework which allows the interpretative and methodological components of the discipline to work in tandem. His reassessment of the status and character of archaeology will be of interest to students, scholars and professionals.
Table des matières
1. The archaeology of 'two cultures'; 2. Science as culture: creating interpretative networks; 3. Archaeology observed; 4. Materials, science and material culture: practice and narrative; 5. Material culture and materials science: a biography of things; 6. A biography of ceramics in Neolithic Orkney; 7. Making people and things in the Neolithic: pots, food and history; 8. Before and after science.
A propos de l'auteur
Andrew Jones is a Principal Engineer, author, and a Google Developer Expert. He has over 15 years' experience in the industry, with the first half primarily as a software engineer before moving into the data platform and data engineering space. He thinks a lot about how to build platforms - particularly data platforms - that drive the creation of business value. His work on building performant, efficient, and well governed data platforms that facilitate the production and consumption of quality data led him to coining and defining data contracts, and in 2023 he authored the seminal book on the topic, Driving Data Quality with Data Contracts. Andrew is a regular speaker and writer, and passionate about helping organizations get the most value from data.
Résumé
Contemporary archaeology is polarised between 'scientists' who analyse, classify and describe, and social theorists, influenced by sociologies of science and culture theory. By emphasising the process of interpretation, this 2001 book shows that there is no necessary conflict between the aims and procedures of the various factions.
