Constructing an Archaeology of Children: Studying Children and Child Material Culture from the African Past

Abstract

This chapter addresses the implications of an archaeology that includes studies of children and their material environment. Focusing on examples of African populations, it offers models that contribute to theories about child behavior. The construction of an archaeology of children is feasible and important for furthering our understanding of the past. Through ethnoarchaeological approaches, we have the opportunity to begin a discourse on children and to set a foundation for future studies on what the children left behind.