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The Ethics of Anthropology and Amerindian Research
By Richard J. Chacon, Rubén G. Mendoza. 2001
The decision to publish scholarly findings bearing on the question of Amerindian environmental degradation, warfare, and/or violence is one that…
weighs heavily on anthropologists. This burden stems from the fact that documentation of this may render descendant communities vulnerable to a host of predatory agendas and hostile modern forces. Consequently, some anthropologists and community advocates alike argue that such culturally and socially sensitive, and thereby, politically volatile information regarding Amerindian-induced environmental degradation and warfare should not be reported. This admonition presents a conundrum for anthropologists and other social scientists employed in the academy or who work at the behest of tribal entities. This work documents the various ethical dilemmas that confront anthropologists, and researchers in general, when investigating Amerindian communities. The contributions to this volume explore the ramifications of reporting--and, specifically,--of non-reporting instances of environmental degradation and warfare among Amerindians. Collectively, the contributions in this volume, which extend across the disciplines of archaeology, anthropology, ethnohistory, ethnic studies, philosophy, and medicine, argue that the non-reporting of environmental mismanagement and violence in Amerindian communities generally harms not only the field of anthropology but the Amerindian populations themselves.The Roman West, AD 200-500
By Simon Esmonde Cleary. 2013
This book describes and analyses the development of the Roman West from Gibraltar to the Rhine, using primarily the extensive…
body of published archaeological evidence rather than the textual evidence underlying most other studies. It situates this development within a longer-term process of change, proposing the later second century rather than the 'third-century crisis' as the major turning-point, although the latter had longer-term consequences owing to the rise in importance of military identities. Elsewhere, more 'traditional' forms of settlement and display were sustained, to which was added the vocabulary of Christianity. The longer-term rhythms are also central to assessing the evidence for such aspects as rural settlement and patterns of economic interaction. The collapse of Roman imperial authority emphasised trends such as militarisation and regionalisation along with economic and cultural disintegration. Indicators of 'barbarian/Germanic' presence are reassessed within such contexts and the traditional interpretations questioned and alternatives proposed.Heritage in the Context of Globalization
By Christopher Prescott, Peter F. Biehl. 2013
This brief is the proceedings of two roundtables and forums organized by Eszter Bánffy, Peter Biehl, Douglas Comer, and Christopher…
Prescott and sponsored by the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) and the Society for American Archaeology (SAA) held at the 76th SAA annual conference in Sacramento in April 2011, and the 17th EAA annual conference in Oslo in September 2011. The book is organized around five main issues with the goal to stimulate discussion, research and practices within the field: Traditions and legal regulations of heritage and its management The teaching of cultural heritage; public outreach and university training Heritage and national identity The future of cultural heritage in a globalized and digitized world This book is thus be an exploration of the various experiences in Europe and the Americas to better understand, in the vast field of archaeology and cultural heritage management, where we are today, where we might be, and where we hope to be in the near future.New Perspectives in Global Public Archaeology
By Akira Matsuda, Katsuyuki Okamura. 2012
Since its very beginning, archaeology has in many senses always related to a much wider constituency than just archaeologists. This…
relationship between archaeology and the public has often been overlooked and constantly changes. Public archaeology, as a field of research and practice, has been developing since the 1970s in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States, Britain, and Australia, and is today beginning to spread to other parts of the world. Global expansion of public archaeology comes with the recognition of the need for a careful understanding of local contexts, particularly the culture and socio-political climate. This volume critically examines the current theories and practices of public archaeology through relevant case studies from different regions throughout the world, including: Japan, China, South Korea, New Caledonia, South Africa, Senegal, Jordon, Italy, Peru, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. These case studies are examined from a wide variety of theoretical contexts, to provide a thorough and comprehensive guide to the state of public archaeology today, as well as implications for its future. As the theory and practice of public archaeology continues to change and grow, archaeology's relationship with the broader community needs to be critically and openly examined. The contributions in this wide-ranging work are a key source of information for anyone practicing or studying archaeology in a public context.Training and Practice for Modern Day Archaeologists
By John H. Jameson, James Eogan. 2005
In recent years, an important and encouraging development in the practice of archaeology and historical preservation has been the markedly…
increased number of collaborations among archaeologists, educators, preservation planners, and government managers to explore new approaches to archeological and heritage education and training to accommodate globalization and the realities of the 21st century worldwide. But what is the collective experience of archaeologists and cultural heritage specialists in these arenas? Should we be encouraged, or discouraged, by national and international trends? In an attempt to answer these questions, this volume examines and gives representational examples of the respective approaches and roles of government, universities, and the private sector in meeting the educational/training needs and challenges of practicing archeologists today.The Archaeology of Capitalism in Colonial Contexts
By Sarah K. Croucher, Lindsay Weiss. 2007
The Archaeology of Capitalism in Colonial Contexts: Postcolonial Historical Archaeologies explores the complex interplay of colonial and capital formations throughout…
the modern world. The authors present a critical approach to this topic, trying to shift discourses in the theoretical framework of historical archaeology of capitalism and colonialism through the use of postcolonial theory. This work does not suggest a new theoretical framework as such, but rather suggests the importance of revising key theoretical terms employed within historical archaeology, arguing for new engagements with postcolonial theory of relevance to all historical archaeologists as the field de-centers from its traditional locations. Examining case studies from North America, South America, the Caribbean, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe, the chapters offer an unusually broad ranging geography of historical archaeology, with each focused on the interplay between the particularisms of colonial structures and the development of capitalism and wider theoretical discussions. Every author also draws attention to the ramifications of their case studies in the contemporary world. With its cohesive theoretical framework this volume is a key resource for those interested in decolonizing historical archaeology in theory and praxis, and for those interested in the development of modern global dynamics.Historical and Archaeological Perspectives on Gender Transformations
By Suzanne M. Spencer-Wood. 1989
In many facets of Western culture, including archaeology, there remains a legacy of perceiving gender divisions as natural, innate, and…
biological in origin. This belief follows that men are naturally pre-disposed to public, intellectual pursuits, while women are innately designed to care for the home and take care of children. In the interpretation of material culture, accepted notions of gender roles are often applied to new findings: the dichotomy between the domestic sphere of women and the public sphere of men can color interpretations of new materials. In this innovative volume, the contributors focus explicitly on analyzing the materiality of historic changes in the domestic sphere around the world. Combining a global scope with great temporal depth, chapters in the volume explore how gender ideologies, identities, relationships, power dynamics, and practices were materially changed in the past, thus showing how they could be changed in the future.On Location
By D. Fairchild Ruggles. 2012
On Location: Heritage Cities and Sites merges the material and the social perspectives of preservation and historical interpretation in urban…
landscapes. The essays in this volume focus on the social life of historic cities and large-scale sites. They examine the ways that cities are dynamically changing as they are made and then remade by the people who inhabit or simply visit them, and concentrate on change, pluralism, and fragmentation. The strength of On Location: Heritage Cities and Sites is its comparative approach to both theory and grounded research. It includes an introductory essay that explains the heritage principle under study--the challenges of scale in the environment of a city or large complex--and its development as seen in the policy instruments of ICOMOS, UNESCO, and other major heritage organizations.The combination of wide-ranging case studies (including essays on North America, South America, Central America, the Middle East, and Europe) and the theoretical background make this volume an invaluable asset for researchers in archaeology, urban studies, art and architecture, cultural heritage, public policy, and tourism.Heritage Management, Tourism, and Governance in China
By Larry Yu, Robert J. Shepherd. 2006
This monograph analyzes current cultural resource management, archeological heritage management, and exhibitionary practices and policies in the People's Republic of…
China. Academic researchers, preservationists, and other interested parties face a range of challenges for the preservation of the material past as rapid economic and social changes continue in China. On the one hand, state-supported development policies often threaten and in some cases lead to the destruction of archeological and cultural sites. Yet state cultural policies also encourage the cultivation of precisely such sites as tourism development resources. This monograph aims to bring the concepts of world heritage sites, national tourism policies, ethnic tourism, and museum display together for a general cultural heritage audience. It focuses on a central issue: the tensions between a wide range of interest groups: cultural anthropologists and archeologists, tourism officials, heritage proponents, economic development proponents, a new class of private rich with the means to buy artifacts, and a fragmented regulatory system. Behind all of them lies the political role of heritage in China, also addressed in this monograph.Ritual, Belief and the Dead in Early Modern Britain and Ireland
By Sarah Tarlow. 2007
Drawing on archaeological, historical, theological, scientific and folkloric sources, Sarah Tarlow's interdisciplinary study examines belief as it relates to the…
dead body in early modern Britain and Ireland. From the theological discussion of bodily resurrection to the folkloric use of body parts as remedies, and from the judicial punishment of the corpse to the ceremonial interment of the social elite, this book discusses how seemingly incompatible beliefs about the dead body existed in parallel through this tumultuous period. This study, which is the first to incorporate archaeological evidence of early modern death and burial from across Britain and Ireland, addresses new questions about the materiality of death: what the dead body means, and how its physical substance could be attributed with sentience and even agency. It provides a sophisticated original interpretive framework for the growing quantities of archaeological and historical evidence about mortuary beliefs and practices in early modernity.Satellite Remote Sensing
By Nicola Masini, Rosa Lasaponara. 2011
This book provides a state-of-the art overview of satellite archaeology and it is an invaluable volume for archaeologists, scientists, and…
managers interested in using satellite Earth Observation (EO) to improve the traditional approach for archaeological investigation, protection and management of Cultural Heritage. The recent increasing development of EO techniques and the tremendous advances in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have resulted primarily in Cultural Heritage applications. The book focuses on new challenging prospects for the use of EO in archaeology not only for probing the subsurface to unveil sites and artifacts, but also for the management and valorization as well as for the monitoring and preservation of cultural resources. The book provides a first-class understanding of this revolutionary scenario which was unthinkable several years ago. The book offers: (i) an excellent collection of outstanding articles focusing on satellite data processing, analysis and interpretation for archaeological applications, (ii) impressive case studies, (iii) striking examples of the high potential of the integration of multi-temporal, multi-scale, multi-sensors techniques. Each chapter is composed as an authoritative contribution to help the reader grasp the value of its content. The authors are renowned experts from the international scientific community. Audience: This book will be of interest to scientists in remote sensing applied to archeology, geoarcheology, paleo-environment, paleo-climate and cultural heritage.Surviving Sudden Environmental Change
By Jago Cooper, Payson Sheets. 2012
Archaeologists have long encountered evidence of natural disasters through excavation and stratigraphy. In Surviving Sudden Environmental Change, case studies examine…
how eight different past human communities--ranging from Arctic to equatorial regions, from tropical rainforests to desert interiors, and from deep prehistory to living memory--faced, and coped with, such dangers. Many disasters originate from a force of nature, such as an earthquake, cyclone, tsunami, volcanic eruption, drought, or flood. But that is only half of the story; decisions of people and their particular cultural lifeways are the rest. Sociocultural factors are essential in understanding risk, impact, resilience, reactions, and recoveries from massive sudden environmental changes. By using deep-time perspectives provided by interdisciplinary approaches, this book provides a rich temporal background to the human experience of environmental hazards and disasters. In addition, each chapter is followed by an abstract summarizing the important implications for today's management practices and providing recommendations for policy makers. Publication supported in part by the National Science Foundation.Handbook of Particle Detection and Imaging
By Claus Grupen, Irène Buvat. 2011
The handbook centers on detection techniques in the field of particle physics, medical imaging and related subjects. It is structured…
into three parts. The first one is dealing with basic ideas of particle detectors, followed by applications of these devices in high energy physics and other fields. In the last part the large field of medical imaging using similar detection techniques is described. The different chapters of the book are written by world experts in their field. Clear instructions on the detection techniques and principles in terms of relevant operation parameters for scientists and graduate students are given.Detailed tables and diagrams will make this a very useful handbook for the application of these techniques in many different fields like physics, medicine, biology and other areas of natural science.Ancient Zapotec Religion
By Michael Lind. 2015
Ancient Zapotec Religion is the first comprehensive study of Zapotec religion as it existed in the southern Mexican state of…
Oaxaca on the eve of the Spanish Conquest. Author Michael Lind brings a new perspective, focusing not on underlying theological principles but on the material and spatial expressions of religious practice.Using sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Spanish colonial documents and archaeological findings related to the time period leading up to the Spanish Conquest, he presents new information on deities, ancestor worship and sacred bundles, the Zapotec cosmos, the priesthood, religious ceremonies and rituals, the nature of temples, the distinctive features of the sacred and solar calendars, and the religious significance of the murals of Mitla--the most sacred and holy center. He also shows how Zapotec religion served to integrate Zapotec city-state structure throughout the valley of Oaxaca, neighboring mountain regions, and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.Ancient Zapotec Religion is the first in-depth and interdisciplinary book on the Zapotecs and their religious practices and will be of great interest to archaeologists, epigraphers, historians, and specialists in Native American, Latin American, and religious studies.Bridging the Gaps
By Peter Kroefges, Danny Zborover. 2015
Bridging the Gaps: Integrating Archaeology and History in Oaxaca, Mexico does just that: it bridges the gap between archaeology and…
history of the Precolumbian, Colonial, and Republican eras of the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, a cultural area encompassing several of the longest-enduring literate societies in the world.Fourteen case studies from an interdisciplinary group of archaeologists, anthropologists, ethnohistorians, and art historians consciously compare and contrast changes and continuities in material culture before and after the Spanish conquest, in Prehispanic and Colonial documents, and in oral traditions rooted in the present but reflecting upon the deep past. Contributors consider both indigenous and European perspectives while exposing and addressing the difficulties that arise from the application of this conjunctive approach.Inspired by the late Dr. Bruce E. Byland's work in the Mixteca, which exemplified the union of archaeological and historical evidence and inspired new generations of scholars, Bridging the Gaps promotes the practice of integrative studies to explore the complex intersections between social organization and political alliances, religion and sacred landscape, ethnic identity and mobility, colonialism and resistance, and territoriality and economic resources.Ancient Households of the Americas
By Nancy Douglas, John G. Douglas. 2012
In Ancient Households of the Americas archaeologists investigate the fundamental role of household production in ancient, colonial, and contemporary households.…
Several different cultures--Iroquois, Coosa, Anasazi, Hohokam, San Agustín, Wankarani, Formative Gulf Coast Mexico, and Formative, Classic, Colonial, and contemporary Maya--are analyzed through the lens of household archaeology in concrete, data-driven case studies. The text is divided into three sections: Section I examines the spatial and social organization and context of household production; Section II looks at the role and results of households as primary producers; and Section III investigates the role of, and interplay among, households in their greater political and socioeconomic communities. In the past few decades, household archaeology has made substantial contributions to our understanding and explanation of the past through the documentation of the household as a social unit--whether small or large, rural or urban, commoner or elite. These case studies from a broad swath of the Americas make Ancient Households of the Americas extremely valuable for continuing the comparative interdisciplinary study of households.The contribution of Neandertals to the biological and cultural emergence of early modern humans remains highly debated in anthropology. Particularly…
controversial is the long-held view that Neandertals in Western Europe were replaced 30,000 to 40,000 years ago by early modern humans expanding out of Africa. This book contributes to this debate by exploring the diets and foraging patterns of both Neandertals and early modern humans. Eugène Morin examines the faunal remains from Saint-Césaire in France, which contains an exceptionally long and detailed chronological sequence, as well as genetic, anatomical, and other archaeological evidence to shed new light on the problem of modern human origins.The Metallurgy of Roman Silver Coinage
By Kevin Butcher Jane Evans Vanessa Pashley, Matthew Ponting Christopher Somerfield, Kevin Butcher, Matthew Ponting, Jane Evans, Vanessa Pashley, Christopher Somerfield. 2014
The fineness of Roman imperial and provincial coinage has been regarded as an indicator of the broader fiscal health of…
the Roman Empire, with the apparent gradual decline of the silver content being treated as evidence for worsening deficits and the contraction of the supply of natural resources from which the coins were made. This book explores the composition of Roman silver coinage of the first century AD, re-examining traditional interpretations in the light of an entirely new programme of analyses of the coins, which illustrates the inadequacy of many earlier analytical projects. It provides new evidence for the supply of materials and refining and minting technology. It can even pinpoint likely episodes of recycling old coins and, when combined with the study of hoards, hints at possible strategies of stockpiling of metal. The creation of reserves bears directly on the question of the adequacy of revenues and fiscal health.Power and Landscape in Atlantic West Africa
By J. Cameron Monroe, Akinwumi Ogundiran. 2012
This volume examines the archaeology of precolonial West African societies in the era of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Using historical…
and archaeological perspectives on landscape, this collection of essays sheds light on how involvement in the commercial revolutions of the early modern period dramatically reshaped the regional contours of political organization across West Africa. The essays examine how social and political transformations occurred at the regional level by exploring regional economic networks, population shifts, cultural values and ideologies. The book demonstrates the importance of anthropological insights not only to the broad political history of West Africa, but also to an understanding of political culture as a form of meaningful social practice.The Archaeology of Britain: An Introduction from Earliest Times to the Twenty-First Century
By John Hunter, Ian Ralston. 2010
The Archaeology of Britain is the only concise and up-to-date introduction to the archaeological record of Britain from the reoccupation…
of the landmass by Homo sapiens during the later stages of the most recent Ice Age until last century. This fully revised second edition extends its coverage, including greater detail on the first millennium AD beyond the Anglo-Saxon domain, and into recent times to look at the archaeological record produced by Britain’s central role in two World Wars and the Cold War. The chapters are written by experts in their respective fields. Each is geared to provide an authoritative but accessible introduction, supported by numerous illustrations of key sites and finds and a selective reference list to aid study in greater depth. It provides a one-stop textbook for the entire archaeology of Britain and reflects the most recent developments in archaeology both as a field subject and as an academic discipline. No other book provides such comprehensive coverage, with such a wide chronological range, of the archaeology of Britain. This collection is essential reading for undergraduates in archaeology, and all those interested in British archaeology, history and geography.