1st Edition

Contradictions of Archaeological Theory Engaging Critical Realism and Archaeological Theory

By Sandra Wallace Copyright 2011
192 Pages
by Routledge

192 Pages
by Routledge

192 Pages
by Routledge

Is current archaeological theory stuck at an impasse? Sandra Wallace argues that archaeological theory has become mired as a result of logical and ontological contradictions. By showing that these contradictions are a result of common underlying philosophical assumptions and fallacies this book is able to show how a fresh approach to this discipline is necessary to resolve them, even if this... Read more

Preface  Chapter 1: Introduction  Chapter 2: Archaeological Theory  Chapter 3: Philosophy and Archaeology  Chapter 4: Critical Realism as Critique of Western Philosophy  Chapter 5: Critical Realism as Philosophical Underlabourer  Chapter 6: Diversity and Impasse in Current Archaeological Theorising  Chapter 7: The Contradictions of Archaeological Theory  Chapter 8: The Material in Archaeological Theory  Chapter 9: Critical Realism, the Material and Absence  Chapter 10: Time, Scale and the Ontology of the Material  Chapter 11: Conclusions, Implications and Further Research  Bibliography

Biography

Sandra Wallace is currently a research affiliate at the Department of Archaeology, University of Sydney, Australia, and the Principal Archaeologist for Artefact Heritage Services. Sandra’s research interests are archaeological theory, philosophies of materiality, critical realist theory and Australian Aboriginal archaeology.