46 research outputs found
Lieux de MĂ©moire and Sites of De-Subjectivation
This essay consists of four different elements that approach the nexus of
memory, place/space and subjectivity in different ways. I start out with a
description of the concept of lieux de mémoire as formulated by Pierre Nora,
its connections to Marc AugĂ©âs ânon-placesâ and a critique of these ideas. I
then discuss the postcolonial notion of Third Space as an alterna- tive
approach to the nexus of memory and space. Finally, an archaeological example
of a megalithic site in Jordan illustrates the advantages and difficulties of
mobilizing the idea of Third Spaces in archaeological contexts
an Example of Third Space in Archaeology
In this paper, I briefly elaborate on the differences between two notions of third space, one rooted in postcolonial theory, the other in Marxist geography. Marxist geography is concerned with the production of antagonistic spatialities. I use this idea to analyze various notions of space of and in the Iranian Iron Age polity of the Medes. The main issue is the interpretation of âsquattingâ habitations at the two sites of Tepe Nush-i Jan and Godin Tepe. I argue that the flimsy walls set into the massive architecture of earlier levels are a sign of tensions over conflictual spatialities
Remarks on Approaches and Concepts
This introduction to a set of papers on innovations in ancient
societies discusses an overview of crucial issues raised in the collected
contributions. It is evident that the esteem for innovations in different
societies was highly uneven. Most of the contributions collected here argue
that in non-modern circumstances, innovations had to be inserted into existing
cultural traditions with utmost care to be successful.Diese Einleitung zu Innovationen in vormodernen Gesellschaften gibt eine
Ăbersicht ĂŒber die grundsĂ€tzlichen Fragen, die in den folgenden
EinzelbeitrÀgen angesprochen werden. Deutlich wird, dass die Bewertung von
Innovationen in unterschiedlichen Kulturen stark variierte. Die meisten der
hier versammelten Artikel deuten darauf hin, dass Innovationen in nicht-modernen GesellschaftszusammenhÀngen nur dann erfolgreich waren, wenn sie mit
groĂer Sorgfalt in existierende kulturelle Traditionen eingeschrieben wurden
Are all things created equal? The incidental in archaeology
Archaeologists evince a strong tendency to impute significance to the material traces they study, a propensity that has been especially marked since the post-processual emphasis on meaning and that has taken on renewed vigour with the turn to materiality. But are there not situations in which things are rather incidental or insignificant? This set of essays emerged from a workshop held in Berlin in April 2018, in which a group of scholars was invited to discuss the place of the incidental in social life in general and in archaeology in particular. Rather than lengthy formal papers, we offer an introduction that presents a general set of reflections on the issue of the incidentalness of things, followed by essays that pursue particular directions raised by that introduction as well as our discussions in Berlin. It is our hope that these brief forays into a complex topic will stimulate further work on this subject
Mapping Memory, Space and Conflict
Our introduction to the volume sets the discussion about memory in
archaeology into current contexts, establishes our reasons for producing
this book and discusses a number of crucial aspects of memory, space, and
identity. We provide a brief history of memory studies with a focus on
contributions from archaeology and discuss a number of topics that play
important roles in the papers. These include the relations between forgetting
and remem- bering, and between space, place and memory. Along with our
authors, we emphasize that memory is a matter of practices, not just of
mindsets. A further element in our discussions is the interface between
memory, duration, and history. All of these issues coalesce in an important
background theme, the political nature of various modes of memor
Palestinian Looted Tombs and their Archaeological Investigation
This report describes archaeological rescue work in four
looted tombs from late Roman and early Byzantine times
in the surroundings of Ramallah, located in the Occupied
Palestinian National Territories (OPNT). One goal of our
work was to assess in detail how much of the original
remains of a tomb are left behind after looting. A second
aim was to explore the actual practices of looting by
comparing interviews with looters with the results of an
archaeological examination of looting practices of these
tombs. This provides a unique comparative perspective
that draws on oral history and its material correlates.
Finally, this work helps to assess future possibilities for
reconstructing what has been lost during looting events.
The results of the research include unexpected insights,
such as the repetitive character of looting single tombs,
the presence of modern material remains of the looting
process itself, but also the use of previously looted tombs
for new purposes
Spatial Effects of Technological Innovations and Changing Ways of Life
Die Forschergruppe A-II befasst sich mit den Wechselwirkungen zwischen
technologischen und sozialen VerÀnderungen und mit der Dynamik von Mensch-
Umwelt-Interaktionen. Der Schwerpunkt liegt hierbei auf der Untersuchung der
Genese raumbezogener wie auch raumwirksamer Erfindungen (Keramikproduktion,
Tierdomestikation, frĂŒhe Rad- und Wagentechnologie, Zugtiernutzung, frĂŒhes
Hirtentum, Reiternomadismus) und den Mechanismen der Verbreitung dieser
Innovationen. Hierbei gilt es zu untersuchen, inwiefern der zentrale Aspekt
der rÀumlichen und sozialen MobilitÀt einerseits als Folge bestimmter
technologischer Innovationen und andererseits als Voraussetzung fĂŒr die
Verbreitung von Innovationen angesehen werden kann. DarĂŒber hinaus werden an
mehreren Orten im eurasischen Steppenraum und in Zentralasien die
weitreichenden Auswirkungen technologischer Innovationen auf demographische,
soziale, ökonomische und rÀumliche Parameter in verschiedenen Projekten
untersucht. Zum Einsatz kommen dabei sowohl archÀologische Ausgrabungen unter
Hinzuziehung naturwissenschaftlicher Verfahren aus den Bereichen Geophysik,
ArchÀozoologie, PalÀoethnobotanik, Pedologie und Geomorphologie als auch reine
Laboranalysen an menschlichen und tierischen ZĂ€hnen und Knochen, zur Erhebung
von isotopenchemischen Daten. Als theoretische Grundlagen wurden und werden in
der Forschergruppe insbesondere die zentralen Begriffe Innovation, MobilitÀt
und Wissen diskutiert
Intention/IntentionalitÀt
Verwendung der Begriffe 'Intention' und 'IntentionalitÀt' in verschiedenen Fachdiskursen
Empowerment durch wen und fĂŒr wen?
In our concluding commentary on this theme issue, we would like to take a step back and address some questions about activism in general and the values we attach to it.In unserem abschlieĂenden Kommentar zu diesem FKA-Themenheft möchten wir einen Schritt zurĂŒcktreten und einige Fragen zum Aktivismus im Allgemeinen und zu den Werten, die wir ihm beimessen, ansprechen