Classical Archaeology in Context : Theory and Practice in Excavation in the Greek World

This book compiles a series of case studies derived from archaeological excavation in Greek cultural contexts in the Mediterranean (ca. 800-100 B.C), addressing the current state of the field, the goals and direction of Greek archaeology, and its place in archaeological thought and practice. Overviews of archaeological sites and analyses of assemblages and contexts explore how new forms of data; methods of data recovery and analysis; and sampling strategies have affected the discourse in classical archaeology and the range of research questions and strategies at our disposal. Recent excavations and field practices are steering the way that we approach Greek cultural landscapes and form broader theoretical perspectives, while generating new research questions and interpretive frameworks that in turn affect how we sample sites, collect and study material remains, and ultimately construct the archaeological record. The book confronts the implications of an integrated dialogue between realms of data and interpretive methodologies, addressing how reengagement with the site, assemblage, or artifact, from the excavation context can structure the way that we link archaeological and systemic contexts in classical archaeology. The archaeology of Greece remains ensconced in traditional discourses of classics and art history. In recent decades, fieldwork has led to new research directions, allowing us to reevaluate classical archaeology as a distinct field generating its own research questions. This book compiles case studies of current fieldwork in the Greek world (ca. 800-100 B.C.), considering new data and approaches in shaping a discourse in Greek archaeology.