Archaeological Review Research Articles

Africa and the Indian Ocean

The papers presented in this special issue of the African Archaeological Review all explore interactions between particular African regions and the Indian Ocean from prehistory to the present. The scholarly interest in this theme is manifested in numerous conferences and seminars that have taken place over the last 20 years. These seven articles present different kinds of empirical material and analytical approaches. Exploration of our empirical theme had to confront a particular bias that seems inherent in our discipline: namely the way area-study specialization tends to narrow our search for wider culture-historical influences. Africanists become inclined to search for African connections while Indologists focus on Indian connections. This may even lead to different conceptual orientations that may serve to limit scholarly exchanges between archaeologists working in Africa and in Asia. This becomes particularly problematic with the development of scholarship focusing on various classical traditions characterizing the complex societies of Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. The first paper, by Nicole Boivin, Alison Crowther, Mary Prendergast and Dorian Q. Fuller, “Indian Ocean Food Globalisation and Africa,” covers a long timespan, from 4,000 years ago to the recent period. The authors explore the patterns of food globalization vis-a-vis Africa, focusing especially on the arrival of new food crops and domesticated animals in Africa and also touching on flows from Africa to the broader Indian Ocean world. They use archaeological, archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological materials, as well as historical and ethnographic sources. Drawing on data from the interdisciplinary Sealinks Project, they explore how seafaring activities in the Indian Ocean changed over time and how this had impact on dispersals of plants, animals, material objects, people and ideas. More than 4,000 years of seafaring between the Indus and Mesopotamian civilizations was well established. In the first centuries BCE, Indians had discovered that they could sail across the Indian Ocean by using the seasonal changes of the monsoon. According to the account of the Periplus from the first century CE, this stimulated increased open-sea seafaring between India and the Red Sea. Afr Archaeol Rev (2014) 31:543–545 DOI 10.1007/s10437-014-9177-0

Beer through the Ages

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Additional informationNotes on contributorsJohn W. ArthurJohn W. Arthur is associate professor of anthropology at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. His research in Ethiopia started in 1995, focusing on ceramic ethnoarchaeology and regarding how social stratification can be distinguished by household pottery. His recent research continues in southern Ethiopia, encompassing archaeology, ethnoarchaeology, oral history and oral tradition to understand Gamo history. His writing has recently appeared in African Archaeological Review, Asian and African Study Monographs, Society for American Archaeology Archaeological Record and American Antiquity. His book on Gamo pottery, Living with Pottery: Ethnoarchaeology among the Gamo of Southwest Ethiopia, was published by the University of Utah Foundations of Archaeological Inquiry Series.

Animal Genetics and African Archaeology: Why It Matters

This article introduces the special issue of African Archaeological Review on the relevance of African livestock genetics to archaeology on the continent. It shows how modern and ancient animal genetic research in Eurasia has substantially revised archaeological scenarios for the origins and spread of food production there. It argues that, in contrast to colleagues in Europe and Asia, Africanist archaeologists have generally been slow to engage in truly collaborative research with archaeogeneticists, with some notable exceptions. It builds a case that animal introductions and domestication are as much social, cultural, and economic processes as they are ecological in nature. Through examples, it outlines some profound selective effects that animal keeping has had on humans themselves. Building on the concepts of taste and embodied practice in Stahl’s (2002) discussion of artifacts and differently scaled encounters with non-local commerce, it develops suggestions for archaeologically studying genetically distinctive domestic animals as part of local and long-distance economic systems. Finally, it comments on the issue’s review articles and offers suggestions for ways to encourage stronger collaboration between archaeologists and genetic researchers.

An Archaeological Review of Western New Guinea

Western New Guinea constitutes a frontier zone physically, politically, culturally and conceptually between Island Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Despite this pivotal position, archaeological information for the region is scarce due to limited investigations, limited publication and the multilingual nature of publications. Consequently, little archaeological information about western New Guinea has percolated into the mainstream literature. This paper aims to fill this gap and provides a detailed review of archaeological research, including rock art, published in Dutch, English, French, German and Indonesian. The resultant findings are discussed in terms of continuities and discontinuities with Papua New Guinea and Island Southeast Asia.

Thinking Across the African Past: Interdisciplinarity and Early History

The contents of this special issue of African Archaeological Review stem from a conference convened at Rice University in March, 2011, “Thinking across the African Past: Archaeological, Linguistic and Genetic Research on Precolonial African History,” and reflect a renewed interest in interdisciplinary approaches to the study of Africa’s early past (Blench M Swanepoel et al. 2008; Stahl 2009, 2010; Stahl & LaViolette 2009; Tishkoff et al. 2009; Delius & Schoeman 2010; Mulaudzi et al. 2010; Pakendorf et al. 2011). The conference sought both to showcase new, explicitly interdisciplinary work on African history and to create an opportunity for dialog with scholars working on similar problems in Europe, Asia, and Latin America (see Appendix). Conference invitations charged the participants with two tasks. First, it was hoped that they would engage earlier criticism of attempts at correlating streams of historical data from different methodologies and even propose alternative means of connecting historical records. Yet, such new methodologies needed to respect the production and analysis of each form of evidence within disciplinespecific epistemologies. Second, it was assumed that the range of participants would allow debate to move past disciplinary gridlock by identifying how distinctive, discipline-specific knowledge can contribute to African historiography. Thus, the conference was convened to invigorate discussion of and beyond the confirmation paradigm, in which scholars seek out evidence from other historical disciplines to confirm the when and where of their own conclusions and, as a result of this limited interdisciplinary engagement, confine the interpretive step of historical reconstruction to the evidence from their own discipline (see also Robertshaw 2000). The organization of the conference and composition of the panels were vital to meeting these goals. Prominent scholars in archaeology, linguistics, and genetics opened the conference with a series of comments on the state of research on early Afr Archaeol Rev (2012) 29:75–94 DOI 10.1007/s10437-012-9123-y

UNESCO, URI, and Archaeology in the Deep Blue Sea: Archaeological Ethics and Archaeological Oceanography

Multiple groups have interests that intersect within the field of deep submergence (beyond the 50 meter range of SCUBA) archaeology. These groups’ differing priorities present challenges for interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly as there are no established guidelines for best practices in such scenarios. Associating the term ‘archaeology’ with projects directed at underwater cultural heritage that are guided by archaeologists poses a real risk to that heritage. Recognizing that the relevant professional organizations, local laws, and conventions currently have little ability to protect pieces of cultural heritage across disciplines and international boundaries, the authors propose institution-specific mechanisms, called Archaeology Review Boards, guided by local and international laws and conventions concerning cultural heritage, as the best means to provide oversight for academically centered archaeological activities at the local level.

Landscape for a good feminist. An archaeological review

In 1998 this journal (Archaeological dialogues5(2)) published an editorial titled ‘What is wrong with gender archaeology?’. Responding to this rhetorical question, the editor affirmed that indeed nothing was wrong with it; to the contrary, gender archaeology was as healthy as could be, ‘one of the most thriving fields within the discipline’ (Archaeological dialogues1998, 88). Nonetheless, the writer then proceeded to describe a pervasive, ongoing issue with the article review process. Any submission that addressed gender would elicit warm praise from a reviewer chosen for familiarity with or expertise in gender studies. At the same time, the article would meet with harsh criticism from a second reviewer, selected for area, time period or topical specialization. The result was a continuing dilemma of how best to choose a third reviewer (a dilemma likely familiar to anyone who has submitted an article on any less-conventional topic to many disciplinary journals, not only in archaeology). This polarized reception of gender archaeology, and an unwillingness to engage in a dialogue around it, were persistent and deeply troubling. Comparing claims of novelty in gender archaeology with similar statements made decades earlier by New Archaeology, the editor suggested that processual archaeology gained support only after it had proven its worth in specific case studies, only ‘when substantial work demonstrated that this was indeed rather different and promising’ (Archaeological dialogues1998, 89). Such an expectation would appear most sensible for any empirically engaged discipline.

Court Sites of Arctic Norway: Remains of Thing Sites and Representations of Political Consolidation Processes in the Northern Germanic World during the First Millennium ad?

The court sites situated in the coastal areas of Norway have been the theme of discussion in several publications, including Norwegian Archaeological Review. So far, however, none of the authors has succeeded in gaining overwhelming support for their interpretation. Based on case studies of North Norwegian court sites and comparisons with Icelandic evidence, this paper endorses a long-standing, but still widely disregarded, interpretation suggesting that court sites represent thing sites. It is furthermore suggested that the established variation in age and use periods, number of house foundations and layout of court sites indicate consolidation processes similar to, although chronologically different from, processes presumably taking place across Northern Europe during the first millennium ad.

The Archaeology of Industrialisation and the Textile Industry: The Example of Manchester and the South-western Pennine Uplands During the 18th Century (Part 2)

Between the early 18th century and the mid-19th century the north-west of England was turned from a relatively impoverished backwater to one of the major industrialisation zones in the world. This is thus a key region for understanding the archaeology of the early stages of industrialisation. The area around Manchester was at the heart of this process, which was driven in this region by the mechanisation of the textile industry. The archaeological remains of this industrial transition are not only very extensive but also comparatively early when considered against the classic period of the Industrial Revolution; the decades either side of 1800. This paper discusses this early evidence and the results of a wide-ranging regional survey looking at the archaeology of industrialisation within the textile industry and the role of local tenant farmers in promoting industry in and around Manchester during the 18th century. It highlights a number of key sources of evidence for this period, provides a gazetteer of sites and suggests some future directions for archaeological research into the early industrialisation of this important region. The first part was published in Industrial Archaeology Review XXX.1.

The Archaeological Review of the Sea Level's Rising around 2000 B.C. in East Asia

The Archaeological Review of the Sea Level's Rising around 2000 B.C. in East Asia

The Archaeology of Industrialisation and the Textile Industry: the Example of Manchester and the South-western Pennine Uplands During the 18th Century (Part 1)

Between the early 18th century and the mid-19th century the north-west of England was turned from a relatively impoverished backwater to one of the major industrialisation zones in the world. This is thus a key region for understanding the archaeology of the early stages of industrialisation. The area around Manchester was at the heart of this process, which was driven in this region by the mechanisation of the textile industry. The archaeological remains of this industrial transition are not only very extensive but also comparatively early when considered against the classic period of the Industrial Revolution; the decades either side of 1800. This paper discusses this early evidence and the results of a wide-ranging regional survey looking at the archaeology of industrialisation within the textile industry and the role of local tenant farmers in promoting industry in and around Manchester during the 18th century. It highlights a number of key sources of evidence for this period and suggests some future directions for archaeological research into the early industrialisation of this important region. The second part will be published in Industrial Archaeology Review XXX.2.

“Falling into Feathers”: Jews and the Trans‐Atlantic Ostrich Feather Trade

Previous articleNext article No Access“Falling into Feathers”: Jews and the Trans‐Atlantic Ostrich Feather Trade*Sarah Abrevaya SteinSarah Abrevaya SteinUniversity of Washington Search for more articles by this author University of WashingtonPDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The Journal of Modern History Volume 79, Number 4December 2007 Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/521065 Views: 220Total views on this site Citations: 5Citations are reported from Crossref © 2007 by The University of Chicago.PDF download Crossref reports the following articles citing this article:Sarah Abrevaya Stein Botánica Sephardica, Comparative Studies in Society and History 64, no.33 (May 2022): 611–645.https://doi.org/10.1017/S0010417522000160Merle Patchett Feather-Work: A Fashioned Ostrich Plume Embodies Hybrid and Violent Labors of Growing and Making, GeoHumanities 7, no.11 (Jun 2021): 257–282.https://doi.org/10.1080/2373566X.2021.1904789Evangelia Matthopoulou Business and ideology in an era of nation building: Zionist enterprises in Cyprus, 1933–39, Israel Affairs 25, no.66 (Sep 2019): 953–971.https://doi.org/10.1080/13537121.2019.1670450Annie R. Antonites, Karin Scott, Evin Grody New Directions in South African Archaeozoology of the Last 2,000 Years, African Archaeological Review 33, no.44 (Nov 2016): 345–351.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10437-016-9237-8Paul Knepper THE BRITISH EMPIRE AND JEWS IN NINETEENTH CENTURY MALTA, Journal of Modern Jewish Studies 9, no.11 (Mar 2010): 49–69.https://doi.org/10.1080/14725880903549269

The Stone Dam Mill Engine House

In the previous issue of Industrial Archaeology Review the present author argued that Industrial Archaeology has failed to establish a distinctive identity. As a result it continues to fall short of achieving its full potential. This lack of identity has permitted conventional archaeologists to assume an increasingly dominant role in the subject, notwithstanding the fact that they are largely inappropriately qualified and are rarely prepared to acquire the depth and breadth of knowledge necessary to undertake the work. In continuing the argument, the author maintains that the growing predominance of social studies-based graduates within Industrial Archaeology has provided the avenue by which this trend has extended itself. An intrinsic feature of the social studies ethos is its alienation from science and technology, leading ultimately to rejection. Thus the direct study of engineering technology, which was initially of key significance to Industrial Archaeology, is now being abandoned in favour of sociological opinions on technology.

Historic Building Record and the Halifax Borough Market Doors

In recent issues of Industrial Archaeology Review and Industrial Archaeology News, the debate concerning the form that Industrial Archaeology should take has resurfaced. In this contribution the author argues that there is now an ascendant social studies faction in the subject and that this is promoting an alignment with conventional archaeology which is serving to undermine further the original basis in industrial technology that gave rise to Industrial Archaeology. It is further suggested that these trends largely originate in the academic world and are in consequence detached from external developments. These external developments are creating a commercial environment where the paying client is the key force and Industrial Archaeology is failing to equip itself to deal with this situation. The article discusses a number of issues concerned with the debate. It is followed by a description and analysis derived from a recent field study on the doors of the Halifax Borough Market which it is contended represent a philosophy and technique that might form a basis for a more effective and coherent approach to commercialised Industrial Archaeology, whilst at the same time preserving academic credibility. A further contribution will, with the permission of the editor, discuss the centrality of technology to Industrial Archaeology and the reasons for its currently unfashionable status.

Reconstructing Prehistoric Population Movements: Seeking Congruence in Genetics, Linguistics, and Archaeology

Books discussed here focus upon the initial peopling of the Americas and the worldwide development of food production. They examine postulated historical instances in which genes, languages, and cultural elements appear to correlate, indicating major population movements in prehistory. Recognized experts in historical linguistics, archaeology, and molecular genetics review current methodology, available data, and models of global and regional population history. A more holistic approach and a greater understanding of human population dynamics are called for to improve our reconstruction of these past events.

Architectural Archives/Archiving Architecture: The Digital ERA

Previous articleNext article No AccessArchitectural Archives/Archiving Architecture: The Digital ERAAnn R.E. ArmstrongAnn R.E. Armstrong Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Art Documentation Volume 25, Number 2Fall 2006 Published for the Art Libraries Society of North America Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/adx.25.2.27949434 Views: 654Total views on this site Citations: 1Citations are reported from Crossref Copyright © 2006 ARLIS/NAPDF download Crossref reports the following articles citing this article:Arthur Barker, Johan Swart Platforms of knowledge: architectural heritage practice and the information age in South Africa, Virtual Archaeology Review 11, no.2222 (Jan 2020): 56.https://doi.org/10.4995/var.2020.12234

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

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.

Industrial Heritage and National Identity — Sharing Data, the Importance of Context and Strategic Priorities

(2005). Industrial Heritage and National Identity — Sharing Data, the Importance of Context and Strategic Priorities. Industrial Archaeology Review: Vol. 27, Understanding the Workplace: A Research Framework for Industrial Archaeology in Britain, pp. 27-31.

Control and Confinement: An Archaeological Review of Modern Mental Health Buildings

Control and Confinement: An Archaeological Review of Modern Mental Health Buildings

Archaeology in the Netherlands 2002: The National Archaeological Review and Outlook

Too little is known about the effects of archaeology policy, which makes it difficult to evaluate and adjust the policy on the basis of rational arguments. We simply do not have enough hard evidence. As a result, policy development depends largely on subjective factors such as instinct, vision and expert judgment. A well-balanced assessment of policy – something both politicians and the public would very much like to see – is therefore impossible. To help fill the gap, targeted research is now being conducted into the effects of policy. This article outlines the findings of the report Archaeology in the Netherlands 2002: the national archaeological review and outlook, which was presented to the government of the Netherlands.