A History of Archaeological ThoughtIn its original edition, Bruce Trigger's book was the first ever to examine the history of archaeological thought from medieval times to the present in world-wide perspective. Now, in this new edition, he both updates the original work and introduces new archaeological perspectives and concerns. At once stimulating and even-handed, it places the development of archaeological thought and theory throughout within a broad social and intellectual framework. The successive but interacting trends apparent in archaeological thought are defined and the author seeks to determine the extent to which these trends were a reflection of the personal and collective interests of archaeologists as these relate - in the West at least - to the fluctuating fortunes of the middle classes. While subjective influences have been powerful, Professor Trigger argues that the gradual accumulation of archaeological data has exercised a growing constraint on interpretation. In turn, this has increased the objectivity of archaeological research and enhanced its value for understanding the entire span of human history and the human condition in general. |
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Africa American archaeology analysis ancient anthropology antiquarianism appear approach archae archaeol archaeological research beginning biography brief career changing Childe’s chronicles Clark classical collections of papers concept considers contains context contributions critical culture culture-historical archaeology Daniel dealing detailed discipline discussed early early development edited Egypt English especially et al Europe European evaluated examined first France French German growing historians history of archaeology Hodder human ideas impact important influence Institution intellectual interest interpretations Italy Klejn late later major Marxism medieval ment methods Middle Murray nineteenth century North O’Brien offers ology origins past period polemical political popular postprocessual practice prehistoric prehistoric archaeology presents processual archaeology produced professional provides published recent regional relating result role played Sabloff Smith social Soviet archaeology Soviet Union specific studying the history surveyed techniques theoretical theory tions Trigger understanding United valuable views Western Willey World writings written
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Bibliographic information
| Title | A History of Archaeological Thought |
| Author | Bruce G. Trigger |
| Edition | illustrated, reprint, revised |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press, 2006 |
| ISBN | 0521840767, 9780521840767 |
| Length | 710 pages |
| Subjects | › History / Social History Social Science / Archaeology |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |