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  • © 2012

Reconsidering Archaeological Fieldwork

Exploring On-Site Relationships Between Theory and Practice

  • Examines fundamental questions about archaeological interpretation

  • Combines diverse contributions from academic and professional archaeologists, in the Americas and in Europe

  • Provides practical analysis of current archaeological practices

  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-x
  2. Reconsidering Fieldwork, an Introduction: Confronting Tensions in Fieldwork and Theory

    • Hannah Cobb, Oliver J. T. Harris, Cara Jones, Philip Richardson
    Pages 1-14
  3. How to Archaeologize with a Hammer

    • Geoff Carver
    Pages 15-29
  4. An Archaeology of Many Steps

    • Marianne Lönn
    Pages 67-84
  5. The Struggle Within: Challenging the Subject/Object Relationship on a Shoestring

    • Members of the Ardnamurchan Transitions Project
    Pages 113-130
  6. The Archaeology of the Aesthetic

    • Mark Leone, Amelia Chisholm, Karen Engelke, Amelia Harris, Genevieve Kaplan, Jessica Mundt et al.
    Pages 147-165
  7. Commentary

    • Sarah May
    Pages 167-180
  8. Back Matter

    Pages 181-183

About this book

Digging, recording, and writing are the three main processes that archaeologists undertake to analyze a site, yet the relationships between these processes is rarely considered critically. Reconsidering Archaeological Fieldwork asserts that each of these processes involves at least a bit of subjective interpretation. As a group of archaeologists work together to reconstruct an objective view of the past, at a particular time, at a particular site, their field methods and subjective interpretations affect the final analysis.

This volume explores the important nature of the relationship between fieldwork, analysis, and interpretation. Containing contributions from a diverse group of archaeologists, both academic and professional, from Europe and the Americas, it critically analyzes accepted practices in field archaeology, and provide thoughtful and innovative analysis of these procedures. By combining the experiences of both academic and professional archaeologists, Reconsidering Archaeological Fieldwork highlights key differences and key similarities in their concerns, theories, and techniques. This volume will incite discussion on fundamental questions for all archaeologists, both old and new to the field.

Editors and Affiliations

  • School of Art History & Archaeology, Manchester University, Manchester, United Kingdom

    Hannah Cobb

  • University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom

    Oliver J. T. Harris

  • CFA Archaeology Ltd., Musselburgh, United Kingdom

    Cara Jones, Philip Richardson

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Reconsidering Archaeological Fieldwork

  • Book Subtitle: Exploring On-Site Relationships Between Theory and Practice

  • Editors: Hannah Cobb, Oliver J. T. Harris, Cara Jones, Philip Richardson

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2338-6

  • Publisher: Springer New York, NY

  • eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, Social Sciences (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer Science+Business Media New York 2012

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4614-2337-9Published: 07 March 2012

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-1-4899-9539-1Published: 13 April 2014

  • eBook ISBN: 978-1-4614-2338-6Published: 06 March 2012

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: X, 186

  • Topics: Archaeology, Cultural Heritage

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access