Ethnoarchaeology

Margaret Beck

doi:10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.13047-8

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Book chapter

Ethnoarchaeology

Margaret Beck

International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, pp.162-165

Elsevier Ltd, Second Edition

2015

DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.13047-8

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Abstract

Ethnoarchaeology is an important kind of middle-range research, consisting of ethnographic fieldwork undertaken by archaeologists. Ethnoarchaeologists study the material traces of ongoing human behavior so that archaeologists can better infer past human behavior from material patterns. Ethnoarchaeological fieldwork has been conducted all over the world, in settings ranging from hunting-gathering camps to state-level societies, and addresses a wide variety of material remains and artifact classes. Work focusing on refuse disposal and midden formation is highlighted in this article to illustrate ethnoarchaeology's contributions and relevance for the archaeological record.

Action archaeology

Uniformitarianism

Archaeology

Ethnography

Archaeological interpretation

Middens

Middle-range research

Ethnoarchaeology

Refuse disposal

Details

Title: Subtitle: Ethnoarchaeology
Creators: Margaret Beck - University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Resource Type: Book chapter
Publication Details: International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, pp.162-165
Edition: Second Edition
DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.13047-8
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Language: English
Date published: 2015
Academic Unit: Anthropology
Record Identifier: 9984083899002771

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