Social Theory in Archaeology and Ancient History (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781107053335)

At a time when archaeology has turned away from questions of the long-term and large scale, this collection of essays reflects on some of the big questions in archaeology and ancient history - how and why societies have grown in scale and complexity, how they have maintained and discarded aspects of their own cultural heritage, and how they have collapsed. In addressing these long-standing questions of broad interest and importance, the authors develop counter-narratives - new ways of understanding what used to be termed 'cultural evolution'. Encompassing the Middle East and Egypt, India, Southeast Asia, Australia, the American Southwest and Mesoamerica, the fourteen essays offer perspectives on long-term cultural trajectories; on cities, states and empires; on collapse; and on the relationship between archaeology and history. The book concludes with a commentary by one of the major voices in archaeological theory, Norman Yoffee.

Author: Geoff Emberling
ISBN-10: 1107053331
ISBN-13: 9781107053335
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Language: English
Published: 11/24/2015
Pages: 381
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.64lbs
Size: 9.35h x 6.23w x 1.00d