Abstract
This piece reviews the emerging debate over the ‘decolonization’ of Egyptology and thus sets the frame for the special issue on ‘Postcolonial Theory in Egyptology: Applications, Debates and Potentials.’ The authors contextualize the theme against the backdrop of the status quo of the international relations of archaeology in Egypt and Sudan, before introducing key terms and concepts in postcolonial and decolonial theories to advocate for a more systemized discussion. The review shows that decolonization is a fuzzy concept subject to interpretation and varying implications and outcomes for Egyptology and Nubiology.
Résumé
Cet article dresse un portrait du nouveau débat autour de la « décolonisation » de l’égyptologie. Ce faisant, il définit le cadre du numéro spécial sur la « Théorie postcoloniale en égyptologie: applications, débats et possibilités ». Les auteurs présentent le thème dans le contexte du statu quo des relations internationales en archéologie en Égypte et au Soudan avant d’introduire des termes et des concepts clés des théories postcoloniales et décoloniales afin d’alimenter une discussion plus systématisée. L’étude démontre que la décolonisation est un concept flou assujetti à l’interprétation et décrit divers résultats et implications pour l’égyptologie et la nubiologie.
Resumen
Este artículo examina el debate emergente sobre la "descolonización" de la egiptología y, por lo tanto, establece el marco para el número especial sobre "Teoría poscolonial en egiptología: aplicaciones, debates y potenciales". Los autores contextualizan el tema en el contexto del status quo de las relaciones internacionales de la arqueología en Egipto y Sudán, antes de introducir términos y conceptos clave en las teorías poscoloniales y decoloniales para abogar por una discusión más sistematizada. La revisión muestra que la descolonización es un concepto difuso sujeto a interpretación y diversas implicaciones y resultados para la egiptología y la nubiología.
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© C. Langer. Note: The map was constructed from data collected in Veiga (2021)
© C. Langer. Note: The map was constructed from data collected in Veiga (2021)
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Notes
Decolonial thought considers modern Japan to be closely associated with the West given its modernization along European examples and its integration with the Western international framework since the Second World War.
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Acknowledgements
Christian Langer’s work was supported by the 2020 International Postdoctoral Exchange Fellowship Program (Talent-Introduction Program) (Grant ID 273948), co-funded by Office of China Postdoc (OCPC) and Peking University. The authors are the sole researchers of this work.
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Langer, C., Matić, U. Postcolonial Theory in Egyptology: Key Concepts and Agendas. Arch 19, 1–27 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11759-023-09470-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11759-023-09470-9