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Social Theory in Archaeology and Ancient History

The Present and Future of Counternarratives

Geoff Emberling editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:24th Nov '15

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Social Theory in Archaeology and Ancient History cover

This book reflects on big questions in archaeology and ancient history, including how societies grew and how they collapsed.

This collection of fourteen 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.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.

ISBN: 9781107053335

Dimensions: 235mm x 159mm x 21mm

Weight: 740g

381 pages