Role Of Archaeology Research Articles

Placemaking Through Protest: An Archaeology of the Lees Cross and Endcliffe Protest Camp, Derbyshire, England

The article describes the preliminary results of an archaeological survey of a protest camp occupied since 1999 in Derbyshire, England, and reflects briefly on the role of archaeology in researching contemporary activism and protests. The camp is structured by the everyday activities involved in living in the landscape, by the ‘manufactured vulnerability’ created using characteristics of the environment to contest an attempted eviction, and the public statements of protest that symbolise the campaign to the wider world. Through its longevity and the high profile of the wider anti-quarry campaign the camp is now a key element in the history of its landscape, and it is on these terms that it became the subject of archaeological research.

Academic critique and the need for an open mind (a response to Kristiansen)

In two recent books, From Stonehenge to Las Vegas – Archaeology as popular culture (AltaMira 2005) and Archaeology is a brand! The meaning of archaeology in popular culture (Archaeopress 2007), Cornelius Holtorf wants us to readdress the focus of archaeology from being predominantly a study of the past to becoming a study of its use in popular culture in the present. While I am in general sympathy with the attempt to analyse the role of archaeology in modern popular culture – and his 2007 book especially provides some good examples of that – I am deeply sceptical of Holtorf's theoretical and political programme for archaeology. It represents a dangerous attempt to deconstruct archaeology as a historical discipline in order to allow modern market forces to take over the archaeological heritage and the consumption of the past as popular culture.

A Social History of Brazilian Archaeology: A Case Study

The role of archaeology and material culture in general, in the construction and legitimation of cultural identities, has become central in archaeological theory and practice over the last few years (Jones 1997). The relationship between archaeology and the construction of identities has been at the heart of the discipline from the start, in the nineteenth century, but it was only with contextual, postprocessual approaches that a critical assessment of this relationship became common. The World Archaeological Congress and its emphasis on the socio-politics of archaeology played a vital role in this (Ucko 1995). However, the growth of nationalism in Europe and elsewhere in the world, and the spread of globalisation as a popular interpretive framework, has contributed to the realisation that identity building and material culture were to be interpreted are inextricably interrelated.

Social Change and Oklahoma Public Archaeology

While many archaeological societies are struggling to stay viable, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Better days are to come. American archaeology will soon launch into a new cycle of growth that is focused on Public Archaeology. This social change is due to Baby Boomers desiring meaningful recreation in their retirement years and to a new role for archaeology as an element of popular culture. The new Public Archaeology will focus on providing educational entertainment on many topics that interest Americans. This article is specifically aimed at discussing ways to enhance Oklahoma Public Archaeology but the general issues are pertinent to all areas of North America.

Jewish and Muslim Heritage in Europe: The role of archaeology in defending cultural diversity1

Jewish and Muslim Heritage in Europe: The role of archaeology in defending cultural diversity1

Cross-cultural concepts of archaeology: Kastom, community, education and cultural heritage management in Papua New Guinea

This paper considers Papua New Guinean indigenous perspectives of the past and the role of archaeology therein. Melanesians commonly see the oral tradition as their primary means of learning about the past and archaeology as a pursuit undertaken primarily by academics, most of whom are foreign. In order to encourage community interest in archaeology and the preservation of cultural heritage it is proposed that the indigenous perspective must be considered in all aspects of archaeological research. It is suggested that indigenous perspectives of information exchange are encompassed in future research programmes. Much of the supporting information was drawn from the South-West Pacific Cultural Heritage Training Program workshop held in Papua New Guinea between 2001 and 2003. The workshop provided a forum for indigenous Papua New Guinea Government Heritage Officers and other interested parties to discuss contemporary heritage management issues specifically focused on archaeology but also broadly including issues in contemporary anthropology.

Cross-cultural concepts of archaeology: Kastom, community, education and cultural heritage management in Papua New Guinea

This paper considers Papua New Guinean indigenous perspectives of the past and the role of archaeology therein. Melanesians commonly see the oral tradition as their primary means of learning about the past and archaeology as a pursuit undertaken primarily by academics, most of whom are foreign. In order to encourage community interest in archaeology and the preservation of cultural heritage it is proposed that the indigenous perspective must be considered in all aspects of archaeological research. It is suggested that indigenous perspectives of information exchange are encompassed in future research programmes. Much of the supporting information was drawn from the South-West Pacific Cultural Heritage Training Program workshop held in Papua New Guinea between 2001 and 2003. The workshop provided a forum for indigenous Papua New Guinea Government Heritage Officers and other interested parties to discuss contemporary heritage management issues specifically focused on archaeology but also broadly including issues in contemporary anthropology.

The Direction of Studies in the Korean Archaeology

In the last 60 years, Korean archaeology has largely developed externally. But the method and theory in Korean archaeology was not discussed to any extent internally. In this article, the following problems of the direction of studies in the Korean archaeology are discussed,<BR> Firstly, I considered the concept, the purpose, and the identity of archaeology. The concept and the purpose of archaeology have changed as the archaeology has developed. The first role of archaeology was to describe past cultures, but currently it is to explain them. And it was considered the purpose of Korean archaeology. One of the purpose of Korean archaeology is to reconstruct past culture through material remains which is same with general purpose. In addition to this, they are to study the origin and unique creation of Korean culture and to study the territory of Korea and the relationship with the foreign culture. Archaeology now does not belong to history or anthropology, but archaeology is archaeology itself.<BR> Secondly, some problems such as process of study, basic assumptions, and philosophical discussion are considered. One of the basic assumptions is that all types of human behaviors left material remains, others are the evolutional thinking as materials’ progress and the concept of uniformitarianism came from geology. The philosophical discussion in archaeology improved the level of explanation on the past culture, and reached almost same level with other disciplines.<BR> Lastly, I considered the direction of the studies in Korean archaeology on aspects of studies and reality. In aspects of studies, It was considered the establishment of the system in archaeological studies and the enlargement of subfield in archaeology. Specially understanding of archaeological studies and discussions about method and theory of archaeology are more needed. In aspects of reality, it was considered some subjects such as the role of institutions, conservation of sites, management of museums, and public archaeology. The cooperation between archaeological institutions and the participation to public activities should be needed.<BR> Until now, I think that Korean archaeology did not get out of the traditional archaeology. Therefore, It is more prudent ways to improve constantly the method and theory needed in Korean archaeology rather than to follow recklessly the trend of world archaeology.

Negotiations of surface: archaeology within the early strata of psychoanalysis.

Freud's "The Aetiology of Hysteria" (1896) begins with the description of an excavation. With this passage as a point of departure, the role of archaeology in Freud's early psychoanalytic formulations is examined. The archaeological imagery in his later writings and the collection of ancient objects that came to fill his consulting room and library are well known, but the passage must be contextualized in its own moment to show the influences that led Freud to articulate an "expanse of ruins" at this particular time. In the late nineteenth century, archaeology provided an innovative representation of "topography"--one that exceeded the limitations of this concept in neuroanatomical visualizations and that offered the layered site as an analogy for psychic processes. Schliemann's highly publicized excavations of Troy are recognized as an important but not exclusive source for Freud's narrative of 1896. The additional, perhaps dominant, impact of Austrian archaeological projects in the 1880s and 1890s is noted. These enjoyed considerable visibility in Vienna, and were used by Freud to symbolize the processes of destruction and rebuilding in the city itself. The excavation imagery in "Aetiology" is thus posited as the continuation of a complexity of meanings that Freud brought early on to his engagement with acts of unearthing.

Polluted places: harbours and hybridity in archaeology

What is the role of archaeology in a globalized and postcolonial world? The concept of cultural hybridity is here proposed as a viable approach to re‐evaluate the impurity of cultural expressions within the archaeological discourse. There are three major motives for doing so: 1) as a critique of the idea of cultural essentialism, 2) as a means to provide a new understanding of the harbour as an archaeological locality and 3) as a way of breaking down the boundary created by the modern project between the images of the mobile modern (and rational) being and the immobile (and irrational) pre‐modern native. Why do we get so much pleasure out of being so different not only from others but from our own past? (Latour 1993:114) Isn't the past a foreign country; isn't archaeology to write about the ‘others’ (…)? (Solli 1996:88, my translation)

A multi-analytical study of bone diagenesis: the Neolithic site of Bercy (Paris,France)

Bone remains play an important role in archaeology as a source of informationabout the past. However, they alter over time. Alteration occurs at all scales fromthe macroscopic to nanoscopic level. The evaluation of information extracted onpalaeodiets, ages and palaeoclimates from their chemical and isotopiccomposition requires the study of diagenetic modifications by means of differentcomplementary analytical methods. Diagenetic parameters that quantifythe post-mortem alteration of bone are bone histology, porosity, proteincontent, crystallinity of bone apatite, carbonate content, enrichment andleaching of chemical species in general. The investigation of these featurescan be performed by a combination of complementary elemental andstructural analyses (particle-induced x-ray emission, particle-induced γ-rayemission, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersivex-ray (EDX), electron microprobe, x-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy,transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with EDX), microscopic observations(optical, SEM, TEM) and porosity measurements.The study of animal bonesfrom the Neolithic site of Bercy, France (4000 BC) from the same archaeologicallayer within different local depositional, hydrological and redox environmentsillustrates the possible information that can be extracted from the diageneticstudy on the processes affecting the state of bone preservation. The maincharacteristic of the bone buried in the waterlogged zone is a high level ofpreservation of the organic matter and a low level of porosity inhibitingmajor structural or chemical modifications. The bone sample from thezone with a fluctuating hydrological regime shows a low level of organicmatter and high porosity. Knowledge of the diagenetic patterns enables anestimation of the reliability of information obtained from bone analyses.

Rock art conservation in Morocco

The state of preservation of archaeological sites in Southern Morocco is discussed, with particular reference to rock art sites. While the archaeological community is aware of the scale of the damage (both natural and anthropic) to archaeological sites in the central Sahara, the deterioration of Moroccan cultural heritage is still largely unreported. In May 2002, a survey of some rock art sites in the pre-Saharan Morocco, in the Jebel Sarhro, revealed the gravity and extent of the destruction, caused mainly by looting, vandalism and re-utilisation of archaeological material. Many of the activities detrimental to the rock art can be understood if read into their socio-economic context. Pre-Saharan Morocco is poor and suffers from progressive desertification; the traffic in cultural objects represents one of the few available revenue sources. As a consequence, rock art and other cultural artefacts are systematically looted and sold to private art collectors and tourists. Apart from the scientific damage, this impoverishes the local population, which will lose a great cultural patrimony upon which they could potentially build a sustainable tourism industry. The suitability of management strategies for archaeological sites will also be re-examined, in the light of the actual needs of the local communities. This means defining the role of archaeologists (and other outsiders) in the decision-making process. The dilemma is whether we should consider certain activities – the addition of new engravings to rock art sites or the reutilization of decorated boulders for the construction of water basins – as harmless or detrimental. Do Western values entitle archaeologists to force their management plans on local communities? In this perspective, the paper reports damage done to several engravings by an archaeological team making moulds. What should archaeologists be allowed to do in the name of science and conservation?

Crossing boundaries

AbstractArchaeology is not just about writing reports and interpreting ancient societies and their social structures, but it is also a process which should aim at the creation of a clear communicative message to the general public. Thus, archaeologists should be aware of every possible medium of communication – verbal, written, visual, sound – to express re-constructions of ancient pasts. In this essay I express some ideas about how archaeologists could collaborate with experts, for example theatre directors, in defining artistic way of communicating the past. Finally, I focus on the relationship between academia and fringe archaeology and I look into the political role of archaeologists in modern society.

An "Ancient" Landscape: European Ideals, Archaeology, and Nation Building in Early Modern Greece

The role of archaeology in the creation of modern Greek national identity is a question that has drawn increasing attention in recent years. The most powerful national symbol may well be the Acropolis, an archaeological topos that was "constructed" in the course of the nineteenth century. This paper explores the early phase of the Acropolis purification program in the first decades of the nineteenth century. European approaches to classical antiquities were very influential during this formative stage. Of particular interest here is the interaction between foreign visitors and Athenian notables, especially the debates and discussions that accompanied the creation of the modern version of the archaeological landscape of the Acropolis. Accounts of Western travelers along with documents concerning the activities of the Greek-based Philomousos society offer a glimpse into the events and key players who set the process in motion. Recent archaeological discussions of landscape and site development in general provide the theoretical framework for this discussion.

Archaeology and Regional Identity in Saxony

The paper discusses the interrelation between archaeological method and regional identity using the example of Saxony, a federal state of Germany. While the role of archaeology in the nationalist and ethnic discourse has been discussed relatively intensively, little is known about the hidden or open resistance present and the subnarratives used on a more local level. Saxony, with a multi-ethnic past (Germanic, Slavic and German settlement) and strong indications of a multi-ethnic identity, can be used to demonstrate the changing strength of the ‘Germanocentric’ view of German prehistory.The paper follows the evolutions of the ‘Saxon character’ and its reflection in the archaeological narrative from the Romantic phase (c. 1817–70), through Nationalism, Fascism and archaeology in the GDR to modern times. This specific point of view does not only determine the evaluation of past events, but the questions asked and the methods used to interpret archaeological finds as well.In conclusion, the ‘instrumentalization’ of archaeology as part of the public domain is seen as inescapable. But archaeologists retain responsibility for the use their data are put to. Any construction of identity by way of a common past is exclusive and potentially xenophobic. The author argues for a greater independencce from the past that leaves room for the recognition of distance and ‘strangeness‘.

La trahison des archeologues? Archaeological Practice as Intellectual Activity in Postmodernity

This paper discusses the role of archaeologists within the field of cultural production and examines archaeological practice within its broader social and political setting. It advocates the need to view archaeologists as intellectuals who deal with representation, rather than as stewards of the archaeological 'record'. It concludes that since, as many archaeologists now realize, there is no archaeological record as such, only fragmented material traces of the past which are produced as archaeological 'record' or 'evidence' through disciplinary practices and discourses on identity, archaeologists should acknowledge and accept the responsibility that goes with that realization. That responsibility involves challenging regimes for the 'production of truths', exploring and interrogating the links of knowledges with power, and adopting a critical stance in the global battlefields of cultural production and consumption. These arguments are explored by discussing critically two case-studies from the Mediterranean: the legacy of Manolis Andronikos and his involvement in the discourse of Greek nationalism, and the recent, on-going excavation at Catalhoyuk and its implication in the local and global cultural economies and structures of power.

Public Opinion and Archaeological Heritage: Views from Outside the Profession

A survey of public opinion on archaeological heritage in British Columbia, Canada, focused on five main areas: knowledge of archaeology, interest and participation in archaeology, the role of archaeology in modern society, awareness and support of heritage conservation initiatives, and Aboriginal stewardship of the archaeological record. Public opinion data collected from a random sample of 963 residents of the greater Vancouver metropolitan area indicate a high level of interest and support for archaeology and heritage conservation, but also a high level of misunderstanding about the archaeological record and current legislative measures to protect it. In contrast to recent changes in legislation and initiations within the discipline, public attitude towards Aboriginal stewardship of archaeological resources is generally negative. Education, age, and gender are significant factors affecting differences in opinion.

From Masada to the Little Bighorn: The role of archaeological site interpretation in the shaping of national myths

This paper describes the changing commemoration, political meaning and archaeological presentation of Masada and the Little Bighorn National Battlefield in an attempt to understand the role that each has played in the crystallization of national consciousness. In examining official efforts to preserve the site of ‘Custer's Last Stand’ – from its establishment as a US military cemetery in the late nineteenth century through recent archaeological exploration by the National Park Service – the paper analyses the theme of heroic death of ‘the few against the many’ as symbolic legitimation of frontier conquest. In tracing the history of the commemoration of Masada – from its initial identification by Edward Robinson in 1838, through its adoption as a Zionist symbol in the 1930s, to the large-scale excavations of the 1960s – the paper discusses archaeological attempts to verify Josephus' account of the mass suicide of the Jewish rebels and the site's use as a symbolic legitimation of territorial sovereignty. Finally, changes in the ‘official’ interpretations of the two sites (and emergence of dissenting viewpoints) are placed in political and intellectual context. This cross-cultural comparison is the basis for general observations on the role of archaeology, patriotic mythology and tourism in the development of modern nation states.

Reconceptualizing Resistance in the Historical Archaeology of the British Isles: An Editorial

The present resonates with the harmonics of past events. Our archaeologies, because they deal with the everyday materiality of life, should not neglect to concern themselves with the domination of past people, since many similar forms of oppression persist. Moreover, we should consider the resistance to such domination. Rather than seeing resistance as simply reactive a problem which has generated much criticism—we can reconceptualize it to encompass a more nuanced understanding of the volition and agency of people in inferior positions of power. This lends new strength to the role of archaeologists in representing historical narratives of resistance.

Randomness of spatial distributions of two proteins in the cell nucleus involved in mRNA synthesis and their relationship.

Randomness and relation between point positions play an important role in archeology, cosmology, geography, and biology. An often-discarded effect is the edge effect, the effect that points are bound to a certain region. Without an appropriate correction, the outcome will be wrong. We studied the problem of randomness by comparing the distribution of interpoint distances with what can be expected for randomly distributed points (pair correlation function in statistics), and applied this to two sets of nuclear proteins inside the cell nucleus. The technique comprised labelling the proteins with a fluorescent dye, recording the fluorescent distribution with a 3D confocal microscope, and detecting the positions of the individual fluorescent spots. Results showed that, apart from studying randomness, the method is well equipped to quantitatively analyze a spot detection procedure, as the resolving power and the subvoxel accuracy were clearly visible. Given the results of assessing the randomness of the general transcription factor BRG1 and the RNA synthesizing protein RNA polymerase II (polII) in the cell nucleus, we concluded that the high intensity spots of the BRG1 protein are regularly spaced. The low intensity spots of the BRG1 protein and the low- and high-intensity spots of the polII protein showed more random behavior. The BRG1 and polII proteins showed correlation; unexpectedly, the relation was also found for the low-intensity spots, which were expected to have a more random behavior.