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9780813056241 Academic Inspection Copy

Archaeologies of Listening

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Archaeologists tend to rely on scientific methods to reconstruct past histories, an approach that can alienate local indigenous populations and limit the potential of archaeological research. Essays in this volume argue that listening to and learning from local and descendant communities is vital for interpreting the histories and heritage values of archaeological sites. Case studies from around the world demonstrate how a humanistic perspective with people-centric practice decolonizes the discipline by unlocking an intellectual space and collaborative role for indigenous people. These examples show how listening to oral traditions has opened up broader understandings of ancient rituals in Tanzania, earth mounds in Northern Australia, heritage meanings near the Sigirya World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka, political/religious divisions in Northern Ireland, and the bitter legacy of nineteenth-century grave excavations in British Columbia. The value of cultural apprenticeship to those who have long-term relationships with the landscape is nearly forgotten today, contributors argue. This volume points the way to a reawakening of the core principles of anthropology in archaeology and heritage studies.
Peter R. Schmidt, professor emeritus of anthropology and African studies at the University of Florida, is the author of Community-based Heritage in Africa: Unveiling Local Research and Development Initiatives.
"Emphasizes the value of respectful engagement with local communities and the rewards that are to be reaped in return for patience and humility."--Antiquity "A critical and diverse range of essays. . . . This volume invites researchers to learn to listen, to rethink their scholarship and relationship with local communities, and to strike a pragmatic balance between scientifically sound investigations while being sensitive to the views of the living."--African Archaeological Review "This book will appeal to archaeologists, anthropologists, social scientists, and those in Indigenous studies. . . . The chapters suggest new ways to open attitudes, nurture a capacity to listen, and work towards a transformed practice."--Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute
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