Interpreting artefactual deposition in East Mediterranean and Near Eastern archaeology
This thesis is the outcome of a realisation that, within the East Mediterranean and Near East region, archaeological reconstructions of past societies and of major socio-political and economic transformations are often seriously limited by theoretical and practical shortcomings in the collection, analysis and interpretation of settlement data. In particular, there is a marked failure to account for site formation processes in the interpretation of artefacts and contexts, which is exacerbated by a failure to appreciate the limitations of the functionalism that is intrinsic to archaeological classifications and approaches. Chapter 2 begins with a review of the history of site formation research and a discussion of some of the biases in this research. The discussion includes a critique of the functionalist tenor of much of the extant work that employs modern values in the estimation of the utility and value of artefacts and materials. This is followed in Chapter 3 by a further critique of past and current theoretical frameworks that have informed archaeological approaches to the use and abandonment of space. Special emphasis is placed in the meanings and associations attached to artefacts and to their treatment
Jackson, Adam
Interpreting artefactual deposition in East Mediterranean and Near Eastern archaeology. This thesis is the outcome of a realisation that, within the East Mediterranean and Near East region, archaeological reconstructions of past societies and of major socio-political and economic transformations are often seriously limited by theoretical and practical shortcomings in the collection, analysis and interpretation of settlement data. In particular, there is a marked failure to account for site formation processes in the interpretation of artefacts and contexts, which is exacerbated by a failure to appreciate the limitations of the functionalism that is intrinsic to archaeological classifications and approaches. Chapter 2 begins with a review of the history of site formation research and a discussion of some of the biases in this research. The discussion includes a critique of the functionalist tenor of much of the extant work that employs modern values in the estimation of the utility and value of artefacts and materials. This is followed in Chapter 3 by a further critique of past and current theoretical frameworks that have informed archaeological approaches to the use and abandonment of space. Special emphasis is placed in the meanings and associations attached to artefacts and to their treatment
interpreting artefactual deposition east_mediterranean near_eastern archaeology outcome realisation within east_mediterranean near_east region archaeological_reconstruction past_society major socio_political economic transformation often seriously limited theoretical_practical shortcoming collection analysis_interpretation settlement data particular marked failure account site_formation process interpretation artefact contexts exacerbated failure appreciate limitation functionalism intrinsic archaeological classification approach begin_review history site_formation discussion bias research discussion include critique functionalist tenor much extant work employ modern value estimation utility value artefacts material follow critique past_current theoretical_framework inform_archaeological approach use abandonment space special_emphasis place meaning association attach artefact treatment