2nd Edition

Conflict in the Archaeology of Living Traditions

Edited By R. Layton Copyright 1994
    274 Pages
    by Routledge

    276 Pages
    by Routledge

    The first text to address the contentious issues raised by the pursuit of anthropology and archaeology in the world today. Calls into question the traditional, sometimes difficult relationship between western scholars and the contemporary cultures and peoples they study and can easily disturb.

    List of contributors Foreword Preface Introduction: conflict in the archaeology of living traditions 1. Relations of production and exchange in 17th-century New England: interpretive contexts for the archaeology of culture contact 2. Archaeology, colonialism and 17th-century Native America: towards an alternative interpretation 3. History and prehistory in Bolivia: what about the Indians? Made radical by my own: an archaeologist learns to accept reburial 5. On the problem of historicist catgories in theories of human development 6. The burden of an encumbered inheritance upon the study of the past of Madagascar 7. Archaeological and anthropological hypotheses concerning the origin of ethnic divisions in sub-Saharan Africa 8. The role of language in African perceptions of the past: an appraisal of African language policies and practices 9. A chapter in the history of the colonization of Sami lands: the forced migration of Norwegian reindeer Sami to Finland in the 1800s 10. A proper place for the dead: a critical review ofthe `reburial' issue 11. The sanctity of the grave: White concepts and American Indian burials 12. The acquisition, storage and handling of Aboriginal skeletal remains in museums: an indigenous perspective 13. The souls of my dead brothers 14. Statement of American Indians Against Desecration before the World Archaeological Congress 15. Federal Indian burial policy: historical anachronism or contemporary reality? 16. Human bones as symbols of power: aboriginal American belief systems toward bones and `grave-robbing' archaeologists 17. The role of archaeology in nation building 18. Dual perceptions of the past: archaeolgy and Inuit culture Index

    Biography

    R. Layton

    ''I recommend this volume to everyone concerned with the archaeology of living traditions.'' - Man

    ''In Layton's Conflict volume we see the archaeologist's pursuit of her/his own `truth' in scientifically veritable interpretations of the archaeological record confronting other cultural `truths'.' - Antiquity

    ''Will be of immense interest to archaeologists, anthropologists, and all those concerned with indigenous peoples'' - Geographical Journal

    ''... the attempt to present diverse viewpoints in the context of archaeology and break away from old constructs makes the book an interesting and valuable contribution... The volume as a whole aims to develop a world approach, since minority and indegenous groups are to be found in most countries. The book concentrates on North America, South America and Australia with other articles covering Rwanda, Cameroon, Madagascar and Finland... Condori's moving article examines the relegation to prehistory of his extant people in Bolivia, the theft of encroachment, and their views of time, history and material culture... new and interesting ideas... I ... can ... only recommend reading [the articles] them. Conflict in the Archaeology of Living Traditions demonstrates a fine sensitivity to native peoples and suggests we treat them as something other than objects for observation''

    ''This is one of a series of 20 volumes derived from the World Archaeology Congress, and contributors come from many countries worldwide. The papers exhibit a new approach to the work of archaeologists, embracing the study of social and cultural change in addition to their traditional role of uncovering and interpretating material evidence of past events and cultures, and in emphasizing the wisdom of involving modern descendants in this research. It will be of immense interest to archaeologists, anthropologists and all those concerned with indigenous peoples'' - Geographical Journal