12th February 2007, 03:41 PM
Totally agree! Postprocessualism sowing the seeds of its own downfall.
There is a good example in one of Hodder's books (cant remember which one) where he gets really angry with 'mother earth cattle worshippers (or something)' at Catal Huyuk when they tell him that his theory is b****cks. However, all he can do is say 'their opininon is as valid as mine and all I can do is write my theory down and disseminate it as a counterpoint'. NO ITS NOT; THEY'RE MAD
Of course, this is all 'deep' philosophy/ sociology but I for one am m proud to say that I believe in a shared reality. I think its high time that, although we need to acknowledge it, we as archaeologists dont become obsessed with relativism. After all, Im far more interested in saying things about the past, not just proclaiming in abstract language that 'we cant actually say anything becasue itll be wrong'.
Its time for a paradigm shift. No more archaeological studies solely of the 'imagined individual' but lets combine it with decent data collection at the level of societies; a sort of 'aware' processulaism without the old pretense of 'science'. Once we do this we can powerfully go on the offensive against the druids...
BTW all the above is fairly tongue-in-cheek! Time for a cup of coffee I think!
There is a good example in one of Hodder's books (cant remember which one) where he gets really angry with 'mother earth cattle worshippers (or something)' at Catal Huyuk when they tell him that his theory is b****cks. However, all he can do is say 'their opininon is as valid as mine and all I can do is write my theory down and disseminate it as a counterpoint'. NO ITS NOT; THEY'RE MAD
Of course, this is all 'deep' philosophy/ sociology but I for one am m proud to say that I believe in a shared reality. I think its high time that, although we need to acknowledge it, we as archaeologists dont become obsessed with relativism. After all, Im far more interested in saying things about the past, not just proclaiming in abstract language that 'we cant actually say anything becasue itll be wrong'.
Its time for a paradigm shift. No more archaeological studies solely of the 'imagined individual' but lets combine it with decent data collection at the level of societies; a sort of 'aware' processulaism without the old pretense of 'science'. Once we do this we can powerfully go on the offensive against the druids...
BTW all the above is fairly tongue-in-cheek! Time for a cup of coffee I think!