Tracing the Relational: The Archaeology of Worlds, Spirits, and Temporalities (Foundations of Archaeological Inquiry)

"Tracing the Relational examines the recent emergence of relational ontologies in archaeological interpretation and how this perspective can help archaeologists better understand the past. Traditional representational approaches reflect modern or Western perspectives, which focus on the individual and see the world in terms of dichotomies that separate culture and nature, human and object, sacred and secular. In contrast, ancient societies saw themselves as connected to and entangled with other human and nonhuman entities. In order to gain deeper insight into how people in the ancient world lived, experienced, and negotiated their lives, contributors argue, archaeologists must explore the myriad relationships and entanglements between humans and other beings, places, and things. As contributors unravel these relationships, they demonstrate that movement is an inherent feature of these relational webs and is the driving force behind a continually shifting reality. Chapters focus on various regions and time periods throughout the Americas, tracing how movements between other-worldly dimensions, spirits and deities, and temporalities were integral to everyday life"-- "Tracing the Relational examines the recent emergence of relational ontologies in archaeological interpretation and explores how using this perspective can help archaeologists better understand the past. Traditional representational approaches reflect modern or Western perspectives, which focus on the individual and see the world in terms of dichotomies that separate culture and nature, human and object, sacred and secular. In contrast, ancient societies saw themselves as connected to and entangled with other human and nonhuman entities. Contributors argue that to gain deeper insight into how people in the ancient world lived, experienced, and negotiated their lives archaeologists must explore the myriad relationships and entanglements between humans and other beings, places, and things. As contributors unravel these relationships, they demonstrate that movement is an inherent feature of these relational webs and is the driving force behind a continually shifting reality. Chapters focus on various regions and time periods throughout the Americas, tracing how movements between otherworldly dimensions, spirits and deities, and temporalities were integral to everyday life"-- Provided by publisher "Tracing the Relational examines the recent emergence of relational ontologies in archaeological interpretation and explores how using this perspective can help archaeologists better understand the past. Traditional representational approaches reflect modern or Western perspectives, which focus on the individual and see the world in terms of dichotomies that separate culture and nature, human and object, sacred and secular. In contrast, ancient societies saw themselves as connected to and entangled with other human and nonhuman entities. Contributors argue that to gain deeper insight into how people in the ancient world lived, experienced, and negotiated their lives archaeologists must explore the myriad relationships and entanglements between humans and other beings, places, and things. As contributors unravel these relationships, they demonstrate that movement is an inherent feature of these relational webs and is the driving force behind a continually shifting reality. Chapters focus on various regions and time periods throughout the Americas, tracing how movements between otherworldly dimensions, spirits and deities, and temporalities were integral to everyday life"-- Résumé de l'éditeur Advancing an archaeology of movements and relationships / B. Jacob Skousen and Meghan E. Buchanan SECTION I. WORLDS. Settlement survey, landscape transformations, and the meaning of unoccupied land in postclassic Nejapa, Oaxaca, Mexico / Stacie M. King Moonbeams, water, and smoke : tracing otherworldly relationships at the Emerald Site / B. Jacob Skousen Adena-Hopewell Earthworks and the Milky Way Path of Souls / William F. Romain SECTION II. SPIRITS AND FORCES. War-scapes, lingering spirits, and the Mississippian Vacant Quarter / Meghan E. Buchanan Weaving together evil airs, sacred mountaintops, and war / Margaret Brown Vega Maya religion and gods : relevance and relatedness in the animic cosmos / Eleanor Harrison-Buck SECTION III. TEMPORALITIES. Entanglements of the Blackfoot : relationships with the spiritual and material worlds / Gerald A. Oetelaar Unraveling entanglements : reverberations of Cahokia's Big Bang / Melissa R. Baltus.