Archaeological Theory and Scientific Practice [Paperback]

This 2001 book considers the divide between 'scientific' and 'theoretical' archaeology, and suggests that they are not necessarily conflicting.Contemporary archaeology is polorised between the technically competent excavators, who have sophisticated ways of recording, analysing, classifying and describing their sites, and the social theorists, influenced by sceptical sociologies in science and cultural studies. This book maps the contours of these camps and shows that there is no necessary conflict between the aims and procedures of the various factions. Andrew Jones does this by emphasising the process of interpretations, which is, in his view, the main business of archaeologists.Contemporary archaeology is polorised between the technically competent excavators, who have sophisticated ways of recording, analysing, classifying and describing their sites, and the social theorists, influenced by sceptical sociologies in science and cultural studies. This book maps the contours of these camps and shows that there is no necessary conflict between the aims and procedures of the various factions. Andrew Jones does this by emphasising the process of interpretations, which is, in his view, the main business of archaeologists.Contemporary archaeology is polarized between the technically competent excavators, who have sophisticated ways of recording, analyzing, classifying and describing their sites, and the social theorists, influenced by sceptical sociologies in science and cultural studies. This book defines the contours of each faction and argues that conflict between their aims and procedures is unnecessary. Andrew Jones instead emphasizes the process of interpretations, which is, in his view, the real concern of archaeologists.1. The archaeology of 'two cultures'; 2. Science as culture: creating interpretative networks; 3. Archaeology observed; 4. Materials, science and material culture: practice and narrative; 5. Material culture and materials science: a biography of tlS/