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Symbolic and Structural Archaeology

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title Symbolic and Structural Archaeology
Authors and Contributors      Edited by Ian Hodder
SeriesNew Directions in Archaeology
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:200
Dimensions(mm): Height 279,Width 209
Category/GenreArchaeology
ISBN/Barcode 9780521035507
ClassificationsDewey:930.1
Audience
Professional & Vocational
Illustrations Worked examples or Exercises

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publication Date 5 February 2007
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

This volume presents a searching critique of the more traditional archaeological methodologies and interpretation strategies and lays down a firm philosophical and theoretical basis for symbolist and structuralist studies in archaeology. A variety of procedures, ranging from ethnoarchaeological studies and computing techniques to formal studies of artefact design variability, are utilized to provide models for archaeologists within the proposed framework and the theory and models are then applied to a range of archaeological analyses. This particular approach sees all human actions as being meaningfully constituted within a social and cultural framework. Material culture is not simply an adaptive tool, but is structured according to sets of underlying principles which give meaning to, and derive meanings from, the social world. Thus structural regularities are shown to link seemingly disparate aspects of material culture, from funerary monuments to artefact design, from the use of space in settlements, to the form of economic practices.