Beyond crusades: how (not) to engage with alternative archaeologies
(2005) In World Archaeology 37(4). p.544-551- Abstract
- Archaeologists have often felt uneasy when encountering alternative (fringe, cult, fantastic, pseudo-)
archaeologies. Some have suggested that alternative approaches and their results must be disproved,
while others have been calling for better public understanding of science. My contribution takes a
different point of view. I emphasize the social and cultural needs that both scientific and alternative
archaeologies address and suggest that the main significance of archaeology does not lie in the
specific insights gained about the past but in the very process of engaging with the material remains
of the past in the present. Critical understanding and dialogue, not dismissive polemics,... (More) - Archaeologists have often felt uneasy when encountering alternative (fringe, cult, fantastic, pseudo-)
archaeologies. Some have suggested that alternative approaches and their results must be disproved,
while others have been calling for better public understanding of science. My contribution takes a
different point of view. I emphasize the social and cultural needs that both scientific and alternative
archaeologies address and suggest that the main significance of archaeology does not lie in the
specific insights gained about the past but in the very process of engaging with the material remains
of the past in the present. Critical understanding and dialogue, not dismissive polemics, is the
appropriate way to engage with the multiple pasts and alternative archaeologies in contemporary
society. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/159363
- author
- Holtorf, Cornelius LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2005
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- relativism, Alternative archaeologies, public archaeology, archaeology in contemporary society
- in
- World Archaeology
- volume
- 37
- issue
- 4
- pages
- 544 - 551
- publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000234395200006
- scopus:31344464887
- ISSN
- 0043-8243
- DOI
- 10.1080/00438240500395813
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- f11b44fd-5c02-4ae7-9380-c08c5c276ff8 (old id 159363)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 11:36:18
- date last changed
- 2022-03-05 03:40:48
@article{f11b44fd-5c02-4ae7-9380-c08c5c276ff8,
abstract = {{Archaeologists have often felt uneasy when encountering alternative (fringe, cult, fantastic, pseudo-)<br/><br>
archaeologies. Some have suggested that alternative approaches and their results must be disproved,<br/><br>
while others have been calling for better public understanding of science. My contribution takes a<br/><br>
different point of view. I emphasize the social and cultural needs that both scientific and alternative<br/><br>
archaeologies address and suggest that the main significance of archaeology does not lie in the<br/><br>
specific insights gained about the past but in the very process of engaging with the material remains<br/><br>
of the past in the present. Critical understanding and dialogue, not dismissive polemics, is the<br/><br>
appropriate way to engage with the multiple pasts and alternative archaeologies in contemporary<br/><br>
society.}},
author = {{Holtorf, Cornelius}},
issn = {{0043-8243}},
keywords = {{relativism; Alternative archaeologies; public archaeology; archaeology in contemporary society}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{4}},
pages = {{544--551}},
publisher = {{Taylor & Francis}},
series = {{World Archaeology}},
title = {{Beyond crusades: how (not) to engage with alternative archaeologies}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00438240500395813}},
doi = {{10.1080/00438240500395813}},
volume = {{37}},
year = {{2005}},
}