Critically Reading the Theory and Methods of Archaeology: An Introductory Guide

Author:   Guy Gibbon
Publisher:   AltaMira Press
ISBN:  

9780759123410


Pages:   254
Publication Date:   12 September 2013
Recommended Age:   From 18 to 22 years
Format:   Paperback
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
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Critically Reading the Theory and Methods of Archaeology: An Introductory Guide


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Author:   Guy Gibbon
Publisher:   AltaMira Press
Imprint:   AltaMira Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.90cm , Length: 22.80cm
Weight:   0.376kg
ISBN:  

9780759123410


ISBN 10:   0759123411
Pages:   254
Publication Date:   12 September 2013
Recommended Age:   From 18 to 22 years
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.

Table of Contents

Contents Introduction Part One: Foundations 1. What Kind of Archaeology Is It? 2.What Kind of Investigation Is It? 3. What Are the Issue and the Claim? 4.What Is the Argument? 5. What Are the Assumptions? 6. Is the Writing Clear? 7.Are (Deceptive) Rhetorical Devices Used? 8.Is There a Fallacy in the Reasoning? 9.Are There Skeptical Postmodern Themes in the Argument? Part Two: From Observations to Population Estimates 10.Are Facts Clearly Distinguished from Opinions and Other Claims? 11.How Are the Observations Summarized? 12.Is There an Inductive Argument? 13.Is There a Population Estimate from a Sample? Part Three: Interpreting the Archaeological Record 14.Is There a Theory in My Reading? 15.Which Research Program Is My Reading an Example Of? 16.Is an Explanation Offered? 17.Is There a Causal Argument? Part Four: Evaluating Interpretations of the Archaeological Record 18.Are Deductively Valid Conclusions Drawn? 19.Are Concepts Given Archaeological Interpretations? 20.Are the Conclusions Reasonable? Coda: Is Critical Reading Worth the Effort? Notes Bibliography Index About the Author

Reviews

This little book packs a punch! We have come to expect clear argument and cogent logic from Gibbon's works, but here he not only employs but gives us the tools to evaluate the clarity, validity, and cogency of archaeological literature. It is a book that should be required reading for any archaeologist. I am certain it will become a well-thumbed volume on my bookshelf. -- Peter Peregrine, Lawrence University The most invaluable lesson I learned at university was to be skeptical of what I read and to think for myself. Guy Gibbon's stimulating book, Critically Reading the Theory and Methods of Archaeology, encourages its readers to read critically and to challenge arguments, and not accept things at face value, and it is to be applauded and welcomed for doing so. Our discipline will only progress through the rebuttal of fixed ideas, entrenched views and erroneous dogmas, of which there are many in Archaeology. -- Paul G. Bahn


This little book packs a punch! We have come to expect clear argument and cogent logic from Gibbon's works, but here he not only employs but gives us the tools to evaluate the clarity, validity, and cogency of archaeological literature. It is a book that should be required reading for any archaeologist. I am certain it will become a well-thumbed volume on my bookshelf. -- Peter Peregrine Ph.D, Lawrence University, Lawrence University


This little book packs a punch! We have come to expect clear argument and cogent logic from Gibbon's works, but here he not only employs but gives us the tools to evaluate the clarity, validity, and cogency of archaeological literature. It is a book that should be required reading for any archaeologist. I am certain it will become a well-thumbed volume on my bookshelf. -- Peter Peregrine, Lawrence University The most invaluable lesson I learned at university was to be skeptical of what I read and to think for myself. Guy Gibbon's stimulating book, Critically Reading the Theory and Methods of Archaeology, encourages its readers to read critically and to challenge arguments, and not accept things at face value, and it is to be applauded and welcomed for doing so. Our discipline will only progress through the rebuttal of fixed ideas, entrenched views and erroneous dogmas, of which there are many in Archaeology. -- Paul G. Bahn, co-author, Archaeology: Theories, Methods, and Practice


This little book packs a punch! We have come to expect clear argument and cogent logic from Gibbon's works, but here he not only employs but gives us the tools to evaluate the clarity, validity, and cogency of archaeological literature. It is a book that should be required reading for any archaeologist. I am certain it will become a well-thumbed volume on my bookshelf. -- Peter Peregrine, Lawrence University The most invaluable lesson I learned at university was to be skeptical of what I read and to think for myself. Guy Gibbon's stimulating book, Critically Reading the Theory and Methods of Archaeology, encourages its readers to read critically and to challenge arguments, and not accept things at face value, and it is to be applauded and welcomed for doing so. Our discipline will only progress through the rebuttal of fixed ideas, entrenched views and erroneous dogmas, of which there are many in Archaeology. -- Paul G. Bahn, co-author, Archaeology: Theories, Methods, and Practice Gibbon has produced a powerful text for courses that aim to teach disciplinary writing and thinking and a key work for courses in archaeological writing and archaeological theory. Critically Reading the Theory and Methods of Archaeology fosters thinking about archaeology as a holistic discipline and is a valuable resource for teaching archaeology students to read and think critically. -- Mary C. Beaudry, Boston University, Boston University Gibbon's main goal with this book is clearly indicated by his title: he wants readers to think critically when reading archaeological texts. He suggests that his book is appropriate for undergraduates, graduate students, nonprofessionals, and also professional archaeologists. He further suggests that students engaged in thesis writing and also professional archaeologists might find the book useful in helping them write more clearly and coherently. I think Gibbon succeeds with these goals, and I agree that both students and professionals will benefit from reading his book...Gibbon's writing is refreshingly clear: he practices what he preaches! I think undergraduates will find his writing accessible, and will also appreciate the brevity of the chapters, as I did...Gibbon offers an up-to-date, concise, and readable summary of archaeological theory, informal logic, statistics, and philosophy of science. Undergraduates, graduates, and professionals alike might find that this book will not only make them more critical readers of archaeology, but also better writers of archaeology. That is, Gibbon's book has the potential to make us better archaeologists. Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology


Author Information

Gibbon is a professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota. He is the author of a number of books, including Anthropological Archaeology (Columbia University Press), Explanation in Archaeology (Blackwell), and The Sioux (Blackwell).

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