Evolutionary and Interpretive Archaeologies: A Dialogue (University College London Institute of Archaeology Publications)

This Collection Of Original Articles Compares Various Key Archaeological Topics- Agency, Violence, Social Groups, Diffusion- From Evolutionary And Interpretive Perspectives. These Two Strands Represent The Major Current Theoretical Poles In The Discipline. By Comparing And Contrasting The Insights They Provide Into Major Archaeological Themes, This Volume Demonstrates The Importance Of Theoretical Frameworks In Archaeological Interpretations. Chapter Authors Discuss Relevant Darwinian Or Interpretive Theory With Short Archaeological And Anthropological Case Studies To Illustrate The Substantive Conclusions Produced. The Book Will Advance Debate And Contribute To A Better Understanding Of The Goals And Research Strategies That Comprise These Distinct Research Traditions. -- Back Cover. Evolutionary And Interpretive Archaeologies : A Dialogue / Andrew Gardner, Ethan E. Cochrane -- Units Of Transmission In Evolutionary Archaeology And The Role Of Memetics / Ethan E. Cochrane -- Action And Structure In Interpretive Archaeologies / Andrew Gardner -- Style Versus Function 30 Years On / R. Alexander Bentley -- Intentionality Matters : Creativity And Human Agency In The Construction Of The Inka State / Bill Sillar -- Interpretive Archaeologies, Violence And Evolutionary Approaches / Simon James -- Violence And Conflict : Warfare, Biology And Culture / Robert Layton -- Tribes, Peoples, Ethnicity : Archaeology And Changing `we Groups' / Ulrike Sommer -- Cultural Selection, Drift And Ceramic Diversity At Bogazkoy-hattusa / Claudia Glatz, Anne Kandler, James Steele -- Cultural And Biological Approaches To The Body In Archaeology : Can They Be Reconciled? / Ruth D. Whitehouse -- Missing Links : Cultures, Species And The Cladistic Reconstruction Of Prehistory / Jamshid J. Tehrani -- The Ambiguity Of Landscape : Discussing Points Of Relatedness In Concepts And Methods / Sue Hamilton -- Contrasts And Conflicts In Anthropology And Archaeology : The Evolutionary/interpretive Dichotomy In Human Behavioural Research / Heidi Colleran, Ruth Mace -- A Visit To Down House : Some Interpretive Comments On Evolutionary Archaeology / Matthew H. Johnson -- An Evolutionary Perspective On The Goals Of Archaeology / Stephen Shennan. Ethan E. Cochrane, Andrew Gardner, Editors. Papers Originally Presented At A Seminar Series Held At The Institute Of Archaeology, University College London In The Spring Term Of 2007. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents......Page 6 List of Illustrations......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 1. Evolutionary and Interpretive Archaeologies: A Dialogue......Page 12 2. Units of Transmission in Evolutionary Archaeology and the Role of Memetics......Page 32 3. Action and Structure in Interpretive Archaeologies......Page 64 4. ‘Style versus Function’ 30 Years On......Page 84 5. Intentionality Matters: Creativity and Human Agency in the Construction of the Inka State......Page 106 6. Interpretive Archaeologies, Violence and Evolutionary Approaches......Page 128 7. Violence and Conflict: Warfare, Biology and Culture......Page 152 8. Tribes, Peoples, Ethnicity: Archaeology and Changing ‘We Groups’......Page 170 9. Cultural Selection, Drift and Ceramic Diversity at Boğazköy-Hattusa......Page 200 10. Cultural and Biological Approaches to the Body in Archaeology: Can They Be Reconciled?......Page 228 11. Missing Links: Cultures, Species and the Cladistic Reconstruction of Prehistory......Page 246 12. The Ambiguity of Landscape: Discussing Points of Relatedness in Concepts and Methods......Page 264 13. Contrasts and Conflicts in Anthropology and Archaeology: The Evolutionary/Interpretive Dichotomy in Human Behavioural Research......Page 282 14. A Visit to Down House: Some Interpretive Comments on Evolutionary Archaeology......Page 308 15. An Evolutionary Perspective on the Goals of Archaeology......Page 326 Index......Page 346 About the Authors......Page 358 Contents 6 List of Illustrations 8 Preface 10 1. Evolutionary and Interpretive Archaeologies: A Dialogue 12 Part 1: Theoretical Concerns 32 2. Units of Transmission in Evolutionary Archaeology and the Role of Memetics 32 3. Action and Structure in Interpretive Archaeologies 64 4. ‘Style versus Function’ 30 Years On 84 5. Intentionality Matters: Creativity and Human Agency in the Construction of the Inka State 106 Part 2: Contexts of Study 128 6. Interpretive Archaeologies, Violence and Evolutionary Approaches 128 7. Violence and Conflict: Warfare, Biology and Culture 152 8. Tribes, Peoples, Ethnicity: Archaeology and Changing ‘We Groups’ 170 9. Cultural Selection, Drift and Ceramic Diversity at Boğazköy-Hattusa 200 10. Cultural and Biological Approaches to the Body in Archaeology: Can They Be Reconciled? 228 11. Missing Links: Cultures, Species and the Cladistic Reconstruction of Prehistory 246 12. The Ambiguity of Landscape: Discussing Points of Relatedness in Concepts and Methods 264 Part 3: Future Directions 282 13. Contrasts and Conflicts in Anthropology and Archaeology: The Evolutionary/Interpretive Dichotomy in Human Behavioural Research 282 14. A Visit to Down House: Some Interpretive Comments on Evolutionary Archaeology 308 15. An Evolutionary Perspective on the Goals of Archaeology 326 Index 346 About the Authors 358 978-1-59874-426-2,hardcover,9781598744279,paperback,978-1-59874-660-0,electronic Left Coast Press, Inc. Drawn from presentations originally delivered as a series of seminars held at the Institute of Archeology at University College London in 2007, this collection of fifteen papers on interpretive archeologies showcases current scholarship with evolutionary themes across a variety of research areas. Grouped into sections covering theoretical problems, contexts of study and directions for future research, papers address such topics as action and structure in interpretive archeologies, evolutionary approaches to violence and the evolutionary/interpretive dichotomy in human behavioral research. Numerous illustrations and tables are provided throughout the work. Contributors include academics in archeology and related fields from universities in the UK. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)