Abstract
This paper summarizes the construction of a conceptual framework that can explain, rather than merely describe, the management of archaeology underwater. The four principal concepts—Context, Value, Function, and Form—address the interrelationship between the following influences on the conduct of management: practical and cognitive circumstances; archaeological and nonarchaeological values; the provisions through which these values are operationalized; and the influence of institutions. The framework has been developed over the course of detailed comparative analysis of the management of archaeology underwater in northwest Europe, and is applied to analysis of the dynamics of management in the United Kingdom (U.K.).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cleere, Henry D. 1984 World Cultural Resource Management: Problems and Perspectives. In Approaches to the Archaeological Heritage, edited by Henry D. Cleere, pp. 125–131. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Dromgoole, Sarah 1989 Protection of Historic Wreck: The U.K. Approach; Part I: The Present Legal Framework. International Journal of Estuarine and Coastal Law 4(1):26–51.
1992 Transfer of Administrative Responsibility for Historic Wrecks. International Journal of Estuarine and Coastal Law 7(1):68–74.
Firth, Antony 1992 Archaeology Underwater in France. International Journal of Estuarine and Coastal Law 7(1): 57–63.
1993 The Management of Archaeology Underwater. In Archaeological Resource Management in the U.K.: An Introduction, edited by John Hunter and Ian Ralston, pp. 65–76. Alan Sutton Publishing, Stroud, U.K.
1995 Ghosts in the Machine. In Managing Archaeology, edited by Malcolm Cooper, Antony Firth, John Carman, and David Wheatley, pp. 51–67. Routledge, London.
1996 Managing Archaeology Underwater. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Department of Archaeology, University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K.
Giddens, Anthony 1984 The Constitution of Society: Outline of the Theory of Structuration. Polity Press, Cambridge.
Life, William D. 1984 Value and Meaning in Cultural Resources. In Approaches to the Archaeological Heritage, edited by Henry F. Cleere, pp. 1–11. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
O’Keefe, Patrick J., and Lyndel V. Prott 1984 Law and the Cultural Heritage. Vol. 1, Discovery and Excavation. Professional Books, London.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Firth, A. Theorizing the management of archaeology underwater. Hist Arch 30, 85–92 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03373590
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03373590