Essential Tensions in Archaeological Method and Theory

Edited by Todd L. VanPool and Christine S. VanPool

7 x 10, 197 pp.
23 illustrations
Paper $25.00
978-0-87480-764-6
Anthropology and Archaeology

Foundations of Archaeological Inquiry
James M. Skibo, series editor

Archaeological theory, some say, seems to have fragmented into a thousand fundamentalisms. By working on a broader set of empirical issues than ever before, archaeologists are indeed applying and refining a variety of perspectives. Yet the editors of this volume make a case that it is appropriate for archaeologists to use a logical variety of theoretical structures to answer different kinds of questions, combining approaches as necessary.

In that spirit of plurality, contributors to this volume identify an important theoretical or methodological problem and present an argument regarding its solution. They also provide a critical evaluation of the current state of archaeological method and theory, illustrating that such recurrent issues as the role of agency and the importance of social considerations in the formation of archaeological research dominate current theoretical development.

By presenting both the range of important questions and a variety of answers, this volume contributes to the “essential tension” that will further the growth of archaeological theory.

Praises and Reviews
“ These papers demonstrate both the benefits that can result from a pluralistic approach and the great difficulties involved in implementing it. They also anticipate what will probably be the next great debate among archaeologists: is pluralism an end in itself or will materialist/idealist dichotomies be replaced by an integrated social science megatheory? A thought-provoking read!”
—Bruce Trigger, McGill University

Contributors
Philip Arnold, Loyola University of Chicago
Jerimy J. Cunningham, McGill University
Ian Hodder, Stanford University
John Kantner, Georgia State University
Robert D. Leonard, University of New Mexico
Mark Leone, University of Maryland, College Park
R. Lee Lyman, University of Missouri, Columbia
Michael O'Brien, University of Missouri, Columbia
Timothy R. Pauketat, University of Illinois, Urbana
Dean Saitta, University of Denver
Christine VanPool, University of New Mexico
Todd VanPool, University of New Mexico
Patty Jo Watson, Washington University