The Notions of Production and Consumption in Industrial Archaeology: Towards a Research Agenda

Abstract

Employing a framework of production and consumption, the paper sets out to identify weaknesses within Industrial Archaeology and to point towards research agenda. Some 340 publications in The Journal of Industrial Archaeology, Industrial Archaeology and Industrial Archaeology Review are compared with the Standard Industrial Classification, revealing a notably skewed pattern in favour of four industrial groups — metallic mining and processing, non-metallic mining and processing, textiles, and food and drink. These groups were found to account for 59% of all articles in the 19 industrial groups. Ten industrial groups attracting the most publications are selected for analysis, which indicates that the discipline is weak on 20th-century industries with large plants, and on industries employing modern, sophisticated technology. Much greater emphasis on the 20th century is urged. It is demonstrated that when consumption is disaggregated into its four components, Industrial Archaeology is in fact strong on intermediate manufacturing markets and on intermediate distributive markets, that is, transport. It is argued that weaknesses in wholesaling, retailing, final (domestic) markets and final service markets are more apparent than real.