Nationalism, Politics, and the Practice of Archaeology in Soviet Transcaucasia

Abstract

AbstractThis paper examines the politics of archaeology in Transcaucasia, an area of exceptional ethnic and linguistic diversity, and recently scene of numerous and often bloody territorial disputes. Political activity extends to the destruction of cultural monuments, such as Armenian churches and crosses More commonly archaeological interpretations simply mirror political claims. Oairns of artefactual and cultural origins or ethnic affiliations of archaeological phenomena produce hyperbole that makes detailed synthesis of Caucasian prehistory from the literature impossible for outsiders. The author concludes that there are serious obligations for archaeologists working in politically charged situations, obligations that are best met by the establishment of criteria for acceptable 'readings' of one's prehistoric past that are not chauvinistic or nationalistic.