Introduction to Geographic and Spatial Approaches in the History of Archaeology

Bernard K Means,Neha Gupta

doi:10.5334/bha.255

Abstract

Who studies the historiography of archaeology? Who reads the history of the discipline? Recent years have seen growing interest in the history of archaeology as is reflected in works such as Christenson (1989), Trigger (1989; 2006), Chakrabarti (1988; 2003), Singh (2004), Diaz-Andreu (2007), and special issues in Antiquity (Schlanger 2002) and Complutum (Moro Abadia & Huth 2013). The target audience for these publications is specialists. So what is novel about geographic and spatial approaches in the history of archaeology?

Highlights

Gupta and Means: Introduction to Geographic and Spatial Approaches in the History of Archaeology history of archaeology enable us to vitalize the relationship between the collection of archaeological data and its interpretation
Bollwerk traces the views of Middle Atlantic archaeologists in the United States over the last 150 years through an examination of the cartographic techniques used to depict Native American cultures. She argues that published archaeological maps reflect the culturally situated values of the mapmakers and these communication tools in turn, can shape a reader’s view of aboriginal peoples and social complexity in past societies
Like Bollwerk, Bracewell breaks down conventional views on the fieldwork-historiography polemic, situating the collection of archaeological data as a way to challenge inaccurate views of the past

Summary

Introduction

Introduction to Geographic and SpatialApproaches in the History of ArchaeologyNeha Gupta* and Bernard K. Gupta and Means: Introduction to Geographic and Spatial Approaches in the History of Archaeology history of archaeology enable us to vitalize the relationship between the collection of archaeological data and its interpretation. The present collection consists of seven (from a total of twelve) papers from the conference session, which shed light on archaeological practices in varied social and political contexts, ranging from Canada, India, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Results

Conclusion