Abstract
Contemporary archaeology, with its focus on the present and the very recent past, challenges the conventional definitions of archaeology that emphasize the temporal distance between the archaeologist and the subject matter being investigated. Contemporary archaeology requires different methods, forges novel interdisciplinary collaborations, and inspires new questions. In particular, contemporary archaeology reminds us that all social actors, both in the present and in the past, were uncertain of the future and could not know the outcomes of their actions.
Résumé
L’archéologie contemporaine, en se concentrant sur le présent et le passé récent, remet en question les définitions traditionnelles de l’archéologie pour souligner la distance temporelle entre l’archéologue et le sujet des recherches. L’archéologie contemporaine nécessite des méthodes différentes, elle élabore des collaborations nouvelles interdisciplinaires et pose de nouvelles questions. En particulier, elle nous rappelle que l’ensemble des acteurs sociaux, à la fois du présent et du passé, sont incertains du futur et qu’ils ne connaissent pas les résultats de leurs actions.
Resumen
La arqueología contemporánea, con su enfoque en el presente y en el pasado más reciente, desafía las definiciones convencionales de la arqueología, que enfatiza la distancia temporal entre el arqueólogo y el asunto objeto de la investigación. La arqueología contemporánea requiere métodos distintos, forja nuevas colaboraciones interdisciplinares e inspira nuevas preguntas. Concretamente, la arqueología contemporánea nos recuerda que todos los actores sociales, tanto del presente como del pasado, sentían incertidumbre por el futuro y dudaban sobre los resultados de sus acciones.
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Voss, B.L. Matter Out of Time: The Paradox of the “Contemporary Past”. Arch 6, 181–192 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11759-010-9122-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11759-010-9122-z