Archaeology and Anthropology: Understanding Similarity, Exploring Difference
Author(s): Duncan Garrow (Author), Thomas Yarrow (Author)
Publisher: Oxbow Books
Publication Date: 10 April 2010
Language: English
Print length: 200 pages
ISBN-10: 1842173871
ISBN-13: 9781842173879
Book Description
This book focuses on the relationship between the disciplines of archaeology and anthropology. Both disciplines arose from a common project: a desire to understand human social and cultural diversity. However, in recent years, archaeologys interest in anthropology has remained largely unreciprocated. To date, the causes and consequences of this imbalance have received little attention, particularly within anthropology. Including papers by eminent thinkers within both disciplines, this book sheds new light on issues of disciplinary identity. The contributors show how a lack of collaboration has resulted in a narrowing of horizons within both disciplines and explore the grounds upon which these might be opened up. The papers draw on a range of theoretical perspectives and empirical case-studies, but are unified in their concern to explore the ideological, practical and methodological commitments that mark each discipline as distinct. Ultimately, the volume arrives at the startling conclusion that archaeologys apparent absence of data may actually be a positive attribute, leading to a distinctive approach from which anthropology can learn.
Editorial Reviews
Review
Authors at the intersection of archaeology and anthropology open up exciting possibilities for dialogue and stretch the relationship between the disciplines in new ways.’ — Ian Hodder, Stanford University Ian Hodder, Stanford University This collection of essays on the relationships between archaeology and anthropology provides a dialogue that has waxed and waned over the years with a radical new impetus. The result is a groundbreaking set of new proposals about what anthropologists and archaeologists need to learn from each other.’ — John Gledhill, University of Manchester John Gledhill, University of Manchester For a while now archaeology has felt that ‘its time has come’. Growing with thoughtful practice, merging established methodologies with sophisticated and cosmopolitan theorizing, a disciplinary maturity urges making a mark in the academy… This is precisely what [this volume] undertakes. Indeed, whether it is Julian Thomas’ mystical sounding call to embrace “presence” or Ingold’s guru-like utterance that “to be is to know, and that to know is to be”, there is a poignancy on the part of many of the contributions that sets this collection apart, offering introspective analysis and cognitive tools for just such therapeutic possibility.’ Archaeolog This excellent set of essays examines the relationship between anthropology and archaeology It emerges from a one-day conference held at the University of Cambridge. Coherent and carefully edited throughout, it forms a major contribution to this debate. — David Shankland Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, Vol. 20 (2014)
From the Publisher
Duncan Garrow is a lecturer in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Reading. He specialises in European prehistory (with a particular focus on Britain) and archaeological theory.
About the Author
Duncan Garrow teaches later European prehistory and archaeological theory at the University of Reading. His research interests include long-term histories of deposition, burial practices, island archaeologies and interdisciplinary approaches to material culture.
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