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. Contents List of Figures List of Tables List of Contributors 1. A Contextual Archaeology of Ancient Greece Historical Contexts and Intellectual Traditions 2. Scholarly Traditions and Scientific Paradigms: Method and Reflexivity in the Study of Ancient Praisos 3. Re-excavating Morgantina 4. A Defective Master Narrative in Greek Archaeology 5. Lycia and Classical Archaeology: The Changing Nature of Archaeology in Turkey Mortuary Contexts 6. Shedding Light on Mortuary Practices in Early Archaic Attica: The Case of the Offering Trenches 7. The Potential and Limitations of Bioarchaeological Investigations in Classical Contexts in Greece: An Example from the Polis of Athens Urban and Rural Contexts 8. The Greek Agora in its Peloponnesian Context(s) 9. The Archaeology of Urbanization: Research Design and the Excavation of an Archaic Greek City on Crete 10. Exploring the Ancient Demos of Kymissaleis on Rhodes: Multdisciplinary Experimental Research and Theoretical Issues 11. The Hellenistic Settlement on Prophetes Elias Hill at Arkalochori, Crete: Preliminary Remarks 12. Cultivating Classical Archaeology: Agricultural Activities, Use of Space and Occupation Patterns in Hellenistic Greece Sanctuary Contexts 13. Detecting Patterns through Context Analysis: A Case Study of Deposits from the Sanctuary of Eukleia at Aegae (Vergina) 14. From Fish Bones to Fishermen: Views from the Sanctuary of Poseidon at Kalaureia Index 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