The Oxford Handbook of the History of Archaeology

The Oxford Handbook of the History of Archaeology explores a wide range of topics in an original manner. The volume is divided into seven parts, each covering a broad theme. Part I encompasses chapters on methodology and theory: who has written about the history of archaeology; how to work with archives and oral history, photo archives, and biographies; and a critical view about “genius,” “precursors,” and “great (white) men.” Part II deals with the practices of archaeology throughout the centuries: excavation methods, the use of stratigraphy, human remains, and the interaction between archaeology and other sciences. Objects, artifact distribution, and museums are the focus of the following set of chapters in Part III. Part IV overviews a selection of fields of archaeological research and types of archaeology, including gender, historical, conflict, public, and commercial archaeologies. Institutions and legislation are the focus of Part V: selected topics encompass the history of foreign schools in the Mediterranean, of the international congresses of archaeology, the relationship between archaeology and education, legislation, and the illicit trade in antiquities. Part VI deals with ideologies and the political context of archaeology: the religious context of particular archaeological projects in the history of the discipline; nationalism, colonialism, imperialism, and the postcolonial turn; orientalism; race and racism; and the impact of communism on archaeological theory, methodology, and practice in countries with communist governments in the twentieth century. Part VII explores the social history of archaeology, with a focus on women, amateurs, the army, tourism, economics, and communities.

Archaeology · Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History · Archaeological Research and Protection · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · History

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