Nationalism, Politics and the Practice of Archaeology

Philip L Kohl editor Clare Fawcett editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:26th Jan '96

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Nationalism, Politics and the Practice of Archaeology cover

An edited collection exploring political misuse of archaeology for nationalistic purposes.

In this timely collection, distinguished international scholars explore the political manipulation of archaeology. By arguing that archaeologists need to be more sophisticated about the use of their studies, the book raises cogent questions which concern archaeology, history and anthropology.Archaeology has often been put to political use, particularly by nationalists. The case studies in this timely collection range from the propaganda purposes served by archaeology in the Nazi state, through the complex interplay of official dogma and academic prehistory in the former Soviet Union, to lesser-known instances of ideological archaeology in other European countries, in China, Japan, Korea and the Near East. The introductory and concluding chapters draw out some of the common threads in these experiences, and argue that archaeologists need to be more sophisticated about the use and abuse of their studies. The editors have brought together a distinguished international group of scholars. Whilst archaeologists will find that this book raises cogent questions about their own work, these problems also go beyond archaeology to implicate history and anthropology more generally.

'Nationalism, Politics and the Practice of Archaeology clearly demonstrates that the past constitutes a symplib resource with great potential for present-day politics. This makes the theme crucial and relevant not only for archaeology but also for history and anthropology more generally.' Ethnos
'Nationalism, Politics, and the Practice of Archeology clearly demonstrate that the past constitues a symbolic resource with great potential for present-day politics. This makes the theme crucial and relevant not only for archaeology but also for history and anthropology more generally.' Mats Burström, Ethnos
'I recommend this book to all archaeologists both for its coverage of the history of archaeology and most importantly for what it has to say about modern issues in the practise of archaeology.' Archaeology in New Zealand

ISBN: 9780521480659

Dimensions: 234mm x 156mm x 21mm

Weight: 660g

344 pages