Authority and the production of knowledge in archaeology
This thesis examines the role of authority in the production of archaeological knowledge. It examines how fluid ideas and observations formed in the field become authoritative, factual, solid archaeological products, like scientific texts, reconstructions or museum displays. It asks, what makes a person, a thing or an account of history something that is authoritative? What makes someone an authority on the past? What is archaeological authority? This thesis deconstructs and exposes authority in archaeological practice. It targets how practitioners of archaeology actively enact, construct and implement authority in the process of producing knowledge. Formal representations of the past rely heavily on an underlying notion of the 'authoritative account'. The entire process of reconstructing the past in archaeology is dependent on individuals and institutions existing as authorities, who actively or passively imply that artefacts, sites and final interpretations are 'authentic' or have 'fidelity' to the past. This study examines how authority and acts of legitimation are employed and distributed through the medium of science, and how they need to be actively performed in order to acquire and maintain status.
Pruitt, Tera Corinne
Authority ; Sociology of scientific knowledge ; Archaeology ; Archaeological theory ; Ethnography of science ; Science communication ; Presenting the past ; Heritage ; Heritage management ; Politics of display ; Production of knowledge ; Authoritative acc
Authority and the production of knowledge in archaeology. This thesis examines the role of authority in the production of archaeological knowledge. It examines how fluid ideas and observations formed in the field become authoritative, factual, solid archaeological products, like scientific texts, reconstructions or museum displays. It asks, what makes a person, a thing or an account of history something that is authoritative? What makes someone an authority on the past? What is archaeological authority? This thesis deconstructs and exposes authority in archaeological practice. It targets how practitioners of archaeology actively enact, construct and implement authority in the process of producing knowledge. Formal representations of the past rely heavily on an underlying notion of the 'authoritative account'. The entire process of reconstructing the past in archaeology is dependent on individuals and institutions existing as authorities, who actively or passively imply that artefacts, sites and final interpretations are 'authentic' or have 'fidelity' to the past. This study examines how authority and acts of legitimation are employed and distributed through the medium of science, and how they need to be actively performed in order to acquire and maintain status.
authority production knowledge archaeology examines_role authority production archaeological_knowledge examines fluid idea observation form field become authoritative factual solid archaeological product like scientific text reconstruction museum_display asks make person thing account history something authoritative make someone authority past archaeological authority expose authority archaeological_practice target practitioner archaeology actively enact construct implement authority process produce knowledge formal representation_past rely_heavily underlie notion authoritative account entire process reconstruct past archaeology dependent individual_institution exist authority actively passively imply artefact sit final interpretation authentic past study_examines authority act legitimation employed distribute medium science need actively perform order acquire maintain status