Overview

‘Archaeology is for people’ is the theme of this book. Split between the academic and commercial sectors, archaeological investigation is also deeply embedded in the needs of local communities, making it simultaneously an art, science and social science. Such a multi-disciplinary discipline needs special methods and creative freedom, not repetitive responses. Carver argues that commercial procedures and academic theory are both suffocating creativity in fieldwork. He’d like to see us bring much more diversity and technical ingenuity to every opportunity, and maintains this is more a matter of getting ourselves free of dogma than needing more time and money. This has many implications for the way archaeology is designed and procured – moving archaeologists up the professional ladder from builder to architect, with contracts based on quality of design, not the price.

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9781611320244

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Reviews

""This is a remarkable guide to the intricacies of contemporary archaeology, written by a master of what he calls ""an art and a science"". Carver ranges widely over the archaeological world, argues for diversity and technical ingenuity in a discipline he considers shackled by suffocating dogma. Eloquent argument, vivid writing, and a lively sense of humor help make this short book a masterpiece of how and why we go about studying the past. You'll be humbled by Carver's erudition, impressed by his broad perspective, and refreshed by his common sense and optimism. A must read for all of us, whether amateur, professional, or student."" -- Brian Fagan, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology University of California, Santa Barbara ""Readers may find stimulation in his reflection about how archaeology is conducted, or could be conducted, in very different conditions; the guiding principle is that archaeological work needs to take into consideration three, sometimes conflicting, elements: the research questions posed, the nature of the deposits and the social context in which archaeology happens. To do this, it requires design, appropriate to each situation, and not a uniform approach (hence the subtitle design versus dogma)."" --Madeleine Hummler, Antiquity

This is a remarkable guide to the intricacies of contemporary archaeology, written by a master of what he calls an art and a science . Carver ranges widely over the archaeological world, argues for diversity and technical ingenuity in a discipline he considers shackled by suffocating dogma. Eloquent argument, vivid writing, and a lively sense of humor help make this short book a masterpiece of how and why we go about studying the past. You'll be humbled by Carver's erudition, impressed by his broad perspective, and refreshed by his common sense and optimism. A must read for all of us, whether amateur, professional, or student. -- Brian Fagan, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology University of California, Santa Barbara Readers may find stimulation in his reflection about how archaeology is conducted, or could be conducted, in very different conditions; the guiding principle is that archaeological work needs to take into consideration three, sometimes conflicting, elements: the research questions posed, the nature of the deposits and the social context in which archaeology happens. To do this, it requires design, appropriate to each situation, and not a uniform approach (hence the subtitle design versus dogma). --Madeleine Hummler, Antiquity

Author Information

Martin Carver is Emeritus Professor of Archaeology at the University of York, editor of the journal Antiquity, and the author of Archaeological Investigation (Routledge, 2009). He has undertaken or advised on field projects in England, Scotland, Sweden, France, Italy, and Algeria, including numerous commercial projects and major research campaigns at Sutton Hoo and Portmahomack.

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