ANT312H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Ethnoarchaeology, Experimental Archaeology, Nunamiut
14 Dec 2016
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Document Summary
Use of ethnographic observations of contemporary societies to explain patterning of cultural remains in the archeological record. Used since 19th century in an unstructured and anecdotal way. Specific historical analogy/direct historical approach- to study ancestor look at contemporary group. Use analogy that is not related to group you study- general comparative analogy. Cannot assume sites used as same function. Can be used by same people but different tasks. Developed a standard way of how people behave at different sites- ex. Theories that link cultural and natural transformations with the archaeological records. Assumption that archaeological remains represent fossilized behaviours. Taphonomy important to understand spatial location of artifacts- binford did not take into account of this. Has to be used in parallel to the study of taphonomy and transformation processes (the way in which archaeologicalmaterial has been shaped by human and natural forces since its abandonment) Researchers interested in studying site and its structures. Were able to account for different social structures/ethnicities.
