Postcolonial archaeologies between discourse and practice

van Dommelen, P. (2011) Postcolonial archaeologies between discourse and practice. World Archaeology, 43(1), pp. 1-6. (doi: 10.1080/00438243.2011.544883)

Abstract

As postcolonial theories have gradually but persistently gained more prominence in archaeology over the last decade or so, most attention has been directed towards critiques of contemporary academic and, to a lesser extent, popular representations of past colonial contexts. Much less effort has been spent on alternative and fresh interpretations of the colonial contexts in the past themselves. In this issue, however, the focus is firmly on 'doing archaeology' along postcolonial lines. That means either novel interpretations and perspectives on colonial situations in the past, whether distant or less so, or reflections on fieldwork and research in contemporary postcolonial contexts. In both cases, the underlying assumption is that postcolonial theories offer exciting perspectives for doing archaeology differently and it is the aim of this issue to explore these differences, both past and present.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: van Dommelen, Prof Peter
• Authors: van Dommelen, P.
• Subjects: C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CC Archaeology; D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D051 Ancient History; E History America > E11 America (General); G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Archaeology
• Journal Name: World Archaeology
• ISSN: 1470-1375