Critique of Archaeological Reason
3. Notes

Notes to Chapter 8. The invention of a site

– May 2023

8.1 The reconfiguration of the finds
8.2 The physical and referential nature of the record
8.3 The constitutive nature of the record
8.4 The publication as embodiment of the record
8.5 Selectivity and the question of "non-data"
8.6 The great transfer
8.7 The interpretive filters
8.8 The basic presuppositions
8.9 The delay in archaeological publishing
8.10 A definitive publication
8.11 The maieutics of archaeology
8.12 Socially responsible archaeology and the question of identity


8.1 The reconfiguration of the finds

  1. Excavation as creating something new and altering rather than destroying sites: Lucas 2001 Destruction; excavation as transformation: Lucas 2001 Fieldwork, pp. 201-204.

    – [ Laerke Recht, September 2014]

  2. For essays with a variety of ethnographic approaches to the process of archaeological excavation and how a site and its finds are both created by and create archaeologists, see papers in Edgeworth 2006 Ethnographies Of Archaeological: Yarrow 2006 Ways Of Knowing, Van Reybrouck 2006 Mutual Constitution, Roveland 2006 Archaeological Practice, Carman 2006 Social Practice, and Erdur 2006 Realisafiction.

    – [ Laerke Recht, October 2014]

  3. Archaeologists as mediators: Olsen &al 2012 Things.

    – [ Laerke Recht, August 2016]

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8.2 The physical and referential nature of the record

  1. Cf. the definition of “archaeological record” in Lucas 2012 Archaeological Record.

    – [ Laerke Recht, March 2017]

  2. The “record” – what we record as what is created and what is repeatable, made into text and image: Lucas 2001 Fieldwork.

    – [ Laerke Recht, March 2017]

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8.3 The constitutive nature of the record

  1. The notion of fusion of horizons is common in hermeneutics with a different emphasis.

  2. On reality and simulations of reality, see e.g. Baudrillard 1994 Simulacra And Simulation.

    – [ Laerke Recht, September 2014]

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8.5 Selectivity and the question of "non-data"

  1. On the notion of data/not-data see the theme “Emplacement and context”.

  2. On selectivity: Carr 1985 Concordance, pp. 8-10; Van Reybrouck 2006 Mutual Constitution.

    – [ Laerke Recht, July 2016]

  3. Cf. Madella &al 2014 Simulating The Past.

    – [ Laerke Recht, August 2016]

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8.11 The maieutics of archaeology

  1. Socrates on his role as a midwife, see Plato 1881 Theaetetus.

    – [ Laerke Recht, March 2016]

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8.12 Socially responsible archaeology and the question of identity

  1. For the concept of “community archaeology”, see e.g. Atalay &al 2014 Transforming and Marshall 2002 Community Archaeology.

    – [ Laerke Recht, July 2016]

  2. Memory and identity: Casey E S 2004 Public; cf. also Assmann J 1983kulturelle.

    – [ Laerke Recht, July 2016]

  3. Cf. the concept of “pseudoarchaeology”, e.g. Derricourt 2012 Pseudoarchaeology and Fagan 2006 Archaeological Fantasies.

    – [ Laerke Recht, July 2016]

  4. Archaeology, identity and politics, see e.g. Goode 2007 Negotiating For The Past; Layton- Stone- Thomas 2001 Destruction And Conservation; cf. Rowan & Baram 2004 Marketing Heritage; Simandiraki 2012 Archaeologies; Trigger 1984 Alternative Archaeologies.

    – [ Laerke Recht, July 2016]

  5. Relations with stakeholders, see e.g. Hodder 2002 Ethics And Archaeology; Hodder 2003 Archaeology Beyond Dialogue.

    – [ Laerke Recht, July 2016]

  6. Ethnoarchaeology, see e.g. Hodder 1982 Theoretical.

    – [ Laerke Recht, July 2016]

  7. Public archaeology, see e.g. Merriman 2004 Public Archaeology; Shackel & Chambers 2004 Public Archaeology.

    – [ Laerke Recht, August 2016]

  8. Social archaeology, e.g. Shanks & Tilley 1992 Re- Constructing, ch. 6.

    – [August 2016]

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