Community archaeology : a study of the conceptual, political and practical issues surrounding community archaeology in the United Kingdom today
This thesis aims to provide an intimate study of the concept and practice of community archaeology in the United Kingdom today. The research is founded upon evidence drawn from a programme of ethnographic research conducted at the venues of three diverse community archaeology projects. A significant contention is that understanding of community archaeology can best be informed through study and analysis of the narratives produced by project participants and those who have connections to the localities around which particular projects are sited. Methodologies of participant observation and qualitative interviewing have been selected. It is argued that whilst community archaeology is a relatively new term, if viewed in terms of social relations rather than practices, it can be seen as having a greater historical depth. Drawing on research from the fields of social anthropology and political science, it is argued that the role of 'community' within community archaeology is especially significant. Issues of 'community' are seen to be heavily influential in determining the types of practice adopted by individual projects. Projects can be seen to be put to use within social and political agendas, which seek to regenerate
Isherwood, Robert A.
Community archaeology : a study of the conceptual, political and practical issues surrounding community archaeology in the United Kingdom today. This thesis aims to provide an intimate study of the concept and practice of community archaeology in the United Kingdom today. The research is founded upon evidence drawn from a programme of ethnographic research conducted at the venues of three diverse community archaeology projects. A significant contention is that understanding of community archaeology can best be informed through study and analysis of the narratives produced by project participants and those who have connections to the localities around which particular projects are sited. Methodologies of participant observation and qualitative interviewing have been selected. It is argued that whilst community archaeology is a relatively new term, if viewed in terms of social relations rather than practices, it can be seen as having a greater historical depth. Drawing on research from the fields of social anthropology and political science, it is argued that the role of 'community' within community archaeology is especially significant. Issues of 'community' are seen to be heavily influential in determining the types of practice adopted by individual projects. Projects can be seen to be put to use within social and political agendas, which seek to regenerate
community_archaeology study conceptual political practical_issue surround community_archaeology united_kingdom today aim_provide intimate study concept practice community_archaeology united_kingdom today found_upon evidence_drawn programme ethnographic conduct venue diverse community_archaeology project significant contention community_archaeology best inform study analysis narrative produce project participant connection locality around particular project sit methodologies participant_observation qualitative interviewing select argue_whilst community_archaeology relatively_new term view term social_relation rather practice see great historical depth drawing field social_anthropology political science argue role community within community_archaeology especially significant issues community see heavily influential determine_type practice adopt individual project projects see put use within social_political agenda seek regenerate