{"product_id":"w-c-mckern-and-the-r-lee-lyman-9780817312220","title":"W. C. McKern and the Midwestern Taxonomic Method","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eExplores W. C. McKern's use of Linnaean taxonomy as the model for development of a pottery classification system\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBy the early 20th century, North American archaeologists had found evidence of a plethora of prehistoric cultures displaying disparate geographic and chronological distributions. But there were no standards or algorithms for specifying when a culture was distinct or identical to another in a nearby or distant region.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWill Carleton McKern of the Milwaukee Public Museum addressed this fundamental problem of cultural classification beginning in 1929. He modeled his solution--known as the Midwestern Taxonomic Method--on the Linnaean biological taxonomy because he wanted the ability to draw historical and cultural \"relationships\" among cultures. McKern was assisted during development of the method by Carl E. Guthe, Thorne Deuel, James B. Griffin, and William Ritchie.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book studies the 1930s correspondence between McKern and his contemporaries as they hashed out the method's nuances. It compares the several different versions of the method and examines the Linnaean biological taxonomy as it was understood and used at the time McKern adapted it to archaeological problems. Finally, this volume reveals how and why the method failed to provide the analytical solution envisioned by McKern and his colleagues and how it influenced the later development of Americanist archaeology.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e R. Lee Lyman,Michael J. O'Brien\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0817312226\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780817312220\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University Alabama Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/20\/2002\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 336\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.17lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.22h x 6.14w x 0.83d","brand":"R. Lee Lyman","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48086955557119,"sku":"9780817312220","price":39.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_ba334fbd-ba97-4a29-8ccb-fe3958b8f27c.jpg?v=1769097463","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/w-c-mckern-and-the-r-lee-lyman-9780817312220","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}