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Comparative Archaeologies pp 707–729Cite as

Contemporary Archaeology as a Global Dialogue: Reflections from Southeast Asia

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Abstract

The practices of professional archaeology in Southeast Asia have generally been inherited from and influenced by western archaeologists and amateurs since the eighteenth century. In the past decades, contemporary Southeast Asian archaeology has incorporated western theories and methodologies into its own archaeological practices. At the same time, the search for indigenous archaeological knowledge has been important in the post-modern world era. Evidently, a number of Southeast Asian archaeologists face many challenges. Increasingly, they have been examining the history of archaeology in local contexts, and how these contexts have impacted the development of archaeological knowledge and practices in the present. These contributions reflect self-awareness and help us to gain a better understanding of the current situation in the region. This paper examines the history of the development of prehistoric archaeology in Southeast Asia from a local perspective, and how the current status will impact the growth and construction of archaeological knowledge in the region. In particular, this paper emphasizes archaeological traditions, research methodologies, and the current status of archaeological practices within Southeast Asian countries. In writing this paper, I share my self-reflections from my personal experiences working in prehistoric archaeology in Thailand and Southeast Asia as case studies.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    I mean the period from the appearance of written records onward; with an exception of the Philippines where historical archaeology refers to the period from European contact onward.

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Acknowledgments

I wish to thank Ludomir R. Lozny for inviting me to contribute this paper and for his patience. Several colleagues generously shared data and information including Chanthourn Thuy, Heidi Tan, John Miksic, Mohktar Saidin, U Nyunt Han, and Victor Paz. I am especially thankful for Tristine Smart and Lis Bacus for their critical comments on earlier versions of this paper.

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  1. Department of Archaeology, Silpakorn University, Bangkok, 10200, Thailand

    Rasmi Shoocongdej

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    Ludomir R. Lozny

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Shoocongdej, R. (2011). Contemporary Archaeology as a Global Dialogue: Reflections from Southeast Asia. In: Lozny, L. (eds) Comparative Archaeologies. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8225-4_21

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