Deconstructing Anglo-Saxon archaeology : a critical enquiry into the study of ethnicity in lowland Britain in Late Antiquity (c. 350-600)
This thesis is the first major study of modern archaeological attempts to infer ethnic identity from the material record, in research on the Anglo-Saxon migrations to Britain after the end of Roman rule. It places these studies in their intellectual context, critically assesses their explicit methodologies and unstated analytical assumptions, and compares them with recent work in ethnic sociology. It asserts that Anglo-Saxon archaeology would benefit from drawing upon the most recent insights of this particular field, because, the thesis demonstrates, current scholarship relies upon epistemologically questionable categories, such as coherent 'Germanic' groups. The thesis uses post-structuralist philosophy to show that this reification results from belief that empirical methods can answer questions about ethnic identity unanswerable through purely archaeological means. In particular, it uses the philosophy of Jacques Derrida to show that even the subtler of such attempts rely on material interpretations based not on empirical observation, but pre-rational acts of interpretative choice originating from culture historical intellectual contexts. The thesis then proposes possible alternatives, in conversation with
Harland, Daniel James Michael
Deconstructing Anglo-Saxon archaeology : a critical enquiry into the study of ethnicity in lowland Britain in Late Antiquity (c. 350-600). This thesis is the first major study of modern archaeological attempts to infer ethnic identity from the material record, in research on the Anglo-Saxon migrations to Britain after the end of Roman rule. It places these studies in their intellectual context, critically assesses their explicit methodologies and unstated analytical assumptions, and compares them with recent work in ethnic sociology. It asserts that Anglo-Saxon archaeology would benefit from drawing upon the most recent insights of this particular field, because, the thesis demonstrates, current scholarship relies upon epistemologically questionable categories, such as coherent 'Germanic' groups. The thesis uses post-structuralist philosophy to show that this reification results from belief that empirical methods can answer questions about ethnic identity unanswerable through purely archaeological means. In particular, it uses the philosophy of Jacques Derrida to show that even the subtler of such attempts rely on material interpretations based not on empirical observation, but pre-rational acts of interpretative choice originating from culture historical intellectual contexts. The thesis then proposes possible alternatives, in conversation with
anglo_saxon archaeology critical enquiry study ethnicity lowland britain late_antiquity first_major study modern archaeological attempt infer ethnic_identity material_record anglo_saxon migration britain end roman_rule place study intellectual_context critically_assess explicit methodology analytical assumption compare recent_work ethnic sociology asserts anglo_saxon archaeology would benefit draw_upon recent insight particular field demonstrate current_scholarship relies upon epistemologically questionable category coherent germanic group post_structuralist philosophy show reification belief empirical method answer_question ethnic_identity purely archaeological mean particular use philosophy jacques_derrida show even attempt rely material interpretation base empirical observation pre rational act interpretative choice originate culture historical intellectual_context proposes possible alternative conversation