From hard to soft: theory and Scotland's Neolithic

Brophy, K. (2014) From hard to soft: theory and Scotland's Neolithic. Scottish Archaeological Journal, 33, pp. 7-20. (doi: 10.3366/saj.2011.0021)

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Abstract

The Scottish Theoretical Archaeology Group (STAG) conference organisers expressed some doubts about how far theory has changed, and impacted, archaeological establishment and academia in Scotland. In this paper, I will argue that Scotland is certainly not isolated in a theoretical sense, although in the past, Scottish archaeology could be accused of being theoretically conservative, or at least dependent on ideas and models developed elsewhere. A case-study looking at Neolithic studies will be used to illustrate that despite some recent critical historiographies of the study of the period in Scotland, archaeologists in Scotland and those working with Scottish material have been theoretically innovative and in step with wider paradigm changes. The study of the Neolithic in Scotland, it could be argued, has been shaped by theory more than the study of any other period; we are not isolated, but rather part of wider networks of discourse.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Brophy, Dr Kenny
Authors: Brophy, K.
Subjects:C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CC Archaeology
College/School:College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Archaeology
Journal Name:Scottish Archaeological Journal
Publisher:Edinburgh University Press
ISSN:1471-5767
ISSN (Online):1755-2028
Published Online:01 October 2014

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