Archaeology of Communities: A New World Perspective - Softcover

Canuto, Marcello-Andrea

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0415222788 ISBN 13: 9780415222785

Publisher: Routledge, 2000

Synopsis

The Archaeology of Communities develops a critical evaluation of community and shows that it represents more than a mere aggregation of households. This collection bridges the gap between studies of ancient societies and ancient households. The community is taken to represent more than a mere aggregation of households, it exists in part through shared identities, as well as frequent interaction and inter-household integration.
Drawing on case studies which range in location from the Mississippi Valley to New Mexico, from the Southern Andes to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Madison County, Virginia, the book explores and discusses communities from a whole range of periods, from Pre-Columbian to the late Classic. Discussions of actual communities are reinforced by strong debate on, for example, the distinction between 'Imagined Community' and 'Natural Community.'

About this title

Review:

These 13 essays are about the concept of community and how it can be used to explain patterns of material culture found in archaeology sites. Each essay is written by a different author or set of authors. The editors begin with an introductory chapter providing an overview of how archaeologists have used the term community. The next ten chapters are studies that apply the term to archaeology cases. While the New World is the area of focus, the case studies are fairly comprehensive in coverage..

Synopsis:

Although archaeology consistently refers to communities in its interpretations, concepts of community still remain undeveloped. The Archaeology of Communities develops a critical evaluation of community through a series of theoretically explicit discussions of specific archaeological case studies contributed by leading scholars of the field. This collection bridges the gap between studies of ancient societies and ancient households. The community is taken to represent more than a mere aggregation of households; it exists in part through shared identities, as well as frequent interaction and inter-household integration. Drawing on case studies which range in location from the Mississippi Valley to New Mexico, from the Southern Andes to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Madison County, Virginia, the contributors to this volume explore and discuss communities from a wide range of periods, from the Early Formative to the early twentieth century. Discussions of actual communities are reinforced by strong debate on, for example, the distinction between 'Imagined Community' and 'Natural Community'.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0415222788
• ISBN 13: 9780415222785
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288