Publisher's Synopsis
In this latest collection of articles, Ian Hodder sets out to deal with new developments in archaeological theory and its application to archaeological data. Seven of the 19 chapters have been specifically written for this volume to act as an overview of the way the archaeological debate has developed over the past ten years. Yet Hodder's brief is wider than mere commentary: he aims to break down the separation of theory and practice and to reconcile the division between the intellectual and the "dirt" archaeologist. Through a series of examples - from excavation and heritage issues to site reports - the book demonstrates that an interpretive archaeology must be applied to archaeological data in order to contribute to modern social practice. Faced with a rapidly diminishing past, archaeology urgently needs a clear image of itself, able to gain funding, win public confidence and save the heritage quickly and professionally. This image, however, is often clouded by the theory/practice debate, a division all too often encouraged by the separation of universities and heritage management. Hodder emphasizes the importance of finding the right balance.
