1st Edition

Archaeologies of Us and Them Debating History, Heritage and Indigeneity

    322 Pages
    by Routledge

    322 Pages 24 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    Archaeologies of “Us” and “Them” explores the concept of indigeneity within the field of archaeology and heritage and in particular examines the shifts in power that occur when ‘we’ define ‘the other’ by categorizing ‘them’ as indigenous. Recognizing the complex and shifting distinctions between indigenous and non-indigenous pasts and presents, this volume gives a nuanced analysis of the underlying definitions, concepts and ethics associated with this field in order to explore Indigenous archaeology as a theoretical, ethical and political concept.



    Indigenous archaeology is an increasingly important topic discussed worldwide, and as such critical analyses must be applied to debates which are often surrounded by political correctness and consensus views. Drawing on an international range of global case studies, this timely and sensitive collection significantly contributes to the development of archaeological critical theory.

    Foreword
     Lynette Russell



    Introduction
     Charlotta Hillerdal, Anna Karlström and Carl-Gösta Ojala



    Part I – Politics of Indigeneity



    1. Collective Rights and the Construction of Heritage
     Ronald Niezen 



    2. Naming the Indigenous
     Nick Shepherd



    3. Stakeholder in Practice: “Us”, “Them” and the Problem of Expertise
     Trinidad Rico



    4. Extractive Industries, Corporate Discourse and Indigenous Heritage
     Melissa F. Baird 



    5. Integrating the Past in the Present: Archaeology as Part of Living Yup’ik Heritage
     Charlotta Hillerdal



    6. Us and Whom? Representations of Indigenousness in the Archaeological Site of Avdat, Israel
     Menachem Shiff 



    7. The Archaeological Construction of Aboriginality: The Inuit Case
     Robert McGhee 



    Part II – Spaces Between “Us” and “Them” 



    8. Envisioning a Different Notion of “Indigenous Archaeology” From the Perspective of Sub-Saharan Africa
     Paul J. Lane 



    9. Who is Indigenous? Migration Theories and Notions of Indigeneity in Southern African Archaeology
     Edward Matenga  



    10. Reading Indigeneity Without Race: Colour, Representation and Uncertainty in Photographic Evidence
     Celmara Pocock



    11. How History Controls the Past: “Discovering” the Unconventional and Underground History of Setauket, New York’s Native and African American Community
     Christopher N. Matthews



    12. Bronze Drums and the Contestations of Indigenous Heritage in Laos
     Anna Karlström



    13. Indigeneity, Knowledge and Archaeology on Both Sides of the Mirror
     Alejandro F. Haber



    Part III – Indigeneity and Heritage



    14. Culture, Rights, Indigeneity and Intervention: Addressing Inequality in Indigenous Heritage Protection and Control
     George P. Nicholas



    15. Archaeological Heritage and

    Biography

    Charlotta Hillerdal is Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.



    Anna Karlström is Lecturer and Researcher in Heritage Studies at the Department of Art History, Uppsala University, Sweden.



    Carl-Gösta Ojala is a Researcher in Archaeology at the Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Uppsala University, Sweden.

    "In common with other postcolonial archaeology publications, this one emphasizes that "Indigenous" tends to be equated with timeless, tradition-bound, non-Western, endangered-in a word, a euphemism for "primitive". That colonized peoples are generally poor tends to be glossed over. A strength of this book is that many authors make this clear. Most of the chapters are well written, interesting, and deepen understanding of what "indigenous" may entail."

    A. B. Kehoe, Marquette University