Памятники археологии как исторический источник: историографический обзор

Abstract

As we know, the material objects of the past are the most important sources of historical science. Also, we are aware that material monuments were not immediately included in the orbit of interests of history. Archaeology is recognized as a field of history. It has come a long and difficult way from general evidence of the past and art history to an academic discipline with its base of sources, methodology and other inherent attributes of a full-fledged scientific unit. There are many works on the history of archaeology, archaeological thought and archaeological research of different scale and nature, where the material sources are historical, or this issue is ignored and the concept of «archaeological source» is openly emphasized. It reflects separative trends in archaeology. In the realities of the current day there is an urgent need to revise the prevailing views and perspectives in the understanding of material evidence as a historical source. It is more than obvious that it should begin with the historiography of the problem. In the present article the history of perception and use of material evidence as a source on the past of mankind is considered. For the completeness of the general presentation in the article a detailed historiographical excursus is carried out, which covers the period from antiquity to the present and considers facts of intentional, indirect, and contextual use of material remains in the reconstruction of the past.