Foundations of Social Archaeology
Selected Writings of V. Gordon Childe
Published on 24. September 2004
Book
Hardback
224 pages
978-0-7591-0592-8 (ISBN)
Description
V. Gordon Childe is probably the most widely read early archaeologist of the 20th century and one of the world's most renowned prehistorians. A thorough understanding of the evolution of Childe's theoretical perspective is crucial to an understanding of the foundations of social archaeology. For the first time, a diverse collection of Childe's writings have been brought together in one volume. These fourteen essays, from his earliest seminal work in 1935 to his reflective essay 'Retrospect' written in 1958 shortly before his death, document the progression of this dynamic thinker. Essays such as 'Archaeology and Anthropology' show the evolution of Childe's theories from a conception of the past as a trait-list conceptualization of culture to an understanding of the profound importance of social relations in transforming human history. His understanding of history evolved from a static notion into a dynamic conception that openly embraced social interaction and all that it entailed, a transformation that marked the earliest strains of social archaeology. The introduction by prominent anthropologists Thomas Patterson and Charles Orser places Childe's work in a larger context and explores Childe's ongoing value to modern readers. This volume will be of interest to archaeologists, anthropologists, and historians of social archaeology.
Reviews / Votes
It provides readers with ready access to Childe's many theoretical premises and how they changed over time; it provides historical insights into the theoretical concerns of mid-20th-century archaeology; and it provides insights into the origins of many contemporary theoretical positions and archaeological tropes used both in classrooms and publications. . . All contemporary archaeologists are indebted to V. Gordon Childe, and it is appropriate that we should be reminded occasionally in publications such as this of how he helped formulate our concepts of culture, evolution, and the past. * Canadian Journal of Archaeology *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
California
United States
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 188 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
463 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7591-0592-8 (9780759105928)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
THOMAS C. PATTERSON is Distinguished Professor and Chair of Anthropology at the University of California, Riverside. He is concerned with social theory, class and state formation, and the history of anthropological thought. His books include Toward a Social History of Archaeology in the United States (1995), Inventing Western Civilization (1997), Change and Development in the Twentieth Century (1999), Cultural Diversity in the United States (with Ida Susser, 2000), A Social History of Anthropology in the United States (2001), and Marx's Ghost: Conversations with Archaeologists (2003). CHARLES E. ORSER JR. is Distinguished Professor of Anthropology at Illinois State University and Adjunct Professor of Archaeology at the National University of Ireland at Galway. A historical archaeologist, he uses anthropologically informed archaeology to investigate the lives of men and women ignored by official, written history and their interactions with people of power. His books include The Material Basis of the Postbellum Tenant Plantation, A Historical Archaeology of the Modern World, Historical Archaeology, and Race and Practice in Archaeological Interpretation. He is also the founding editor of the International Journal of Historical Archaeology and the editor of the Encyclopedia of Historical Archaeology
Content
Chapter 1 Changing Methods and Aims in Prehistory Part 1 Introduction:V. Gordon Childe and the Foundations of Social Archaeology Chapter 2 Archaeology as a Science Chapter 3 Archaeological Ages as Technological Stages Chapter 4 Archaeology and Anthropology Chapter 5 Archaeology as a Social Science Chapter 6 History Chapter 7 Organic and Social Evolution Chapter 8 The Urban Revolution Chapter 9 Old World Prehistory: Neolithic Chapter 10 The Constitution of Archaeology as a Science Chapter 11 Early Forms of Society Chapter 12 The Evolution of Society Chapter 13 The Bronze Age Chapter 14 Retrospect