Post-processualism, professionalization and archaeological methodologies. Towards reflective and radical practice

Abstract

In recent years the gap between archaeological theory and practice has been closing, but although there have been calls for ‘reflexivity’, there has been little critical examination of its meanings. Proposed reflexive methodologies still perpetuate many traditional hierarchies of power, and fail to consider the creative nature of excavation and post-excavation. Much archaeological work in Britain, Europe and North America also takes place within the commercial sphere, and post-processual ideas cannot advance archaeological practice unless they can be implemented in contract archaeology. This paper examines theoretical considerations of reflexivity, representation, subjectivity and sensual engagement to highlight their relevance to everyday archaeological practice, and their political potential to undermine existing hierarchies of power within commercial archaeology.

Arqueologia e companhia

“…Nos relatórios, as narrativas pormenorizadas com construções interpretativas foram substituídas por descrições sumárias. Não há correlação entre os dados e muito menos com os demais sítios de uma região (Chadwick, 2003).…”

“…Atividades com a cooperação das comunidades locais, setores alternativos da sociedade e outros pesquisadores são geralmente as primeiras atividades cortadas durante o exercício da racionalização dos custos nos projetos (Chadwick, 2003). Nesse contexto, as mulheres representam um dos grupos mais prejudicados, devido principalmente ao preconceito existente na Arqueologia de Contrato, que associa força, rapidez e a sujeição a condições adversas como características tipicamente masculinas.…”

Grounding the Past: the Praxis of Participatory Archaeology in the Mixteca Alta, Oaxaca, Mexico

“…The introduction of reflexivity in archaeology is thus not a novelty (see Chadwick 2003;Hodder 1999;Hodder 2000 provides several case studies from the Çatalhöyuk site, Meskell 2002;Shanks and Tilley 1988), but has primarily been directed at the archaeological excavation process. Far less attention has been given to reflexivity in the communicative aspects of local -and, in the context of this research, cultural descendant-participants as part of the archaeological fieldwork.…”

Mapping a Future: Archaeology, Feminism, and Scientific Practice

“…Fieldwork has begun receiving attention from archaeologists in Britain (Bender et al 1997;Berggren and Hodder 2003;Chadwick 2003;Hodder 1997;Lucas 2001;Moser 1996), but awaits serious theoretical discussion in North America (for exception see Shanks and McGuire 1996;Spector 1993;Joyce 2002). Focusing on practices of archaeology allows us to recognize the real labor that goes into research, work that is determined by the theoretical underpinnings, research questions that are rooted in epistemological issues, but cannot be ignored.…”