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Shulph Ink

Archaeology on the Threshold: Studies in the Processes of Change

Archaeology on the Threshold: Studies in the Processes of Change

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  • More about Archaeology on the Threshold: Studies in the Processes of Change


This book explores transitional periods of cultural and environmental change through the lenses of archaeology and ethnography, offering a global comparative perspective on transitional states. It examines major transitions, such as the shift from foraging to agriculture, the adoption of new technologies, the emergence of large-scale societies, and changes due to climate change and disease. Theoretical approaches range from processual to postprocessual, humanistic, and interpretive, and methodologies include ethnoarchaeology, ethnographic analogy, cross-cultural comparisons, oral history, historical record, participant observation, and focus group discussions. The case studies challenge assumptions regarding the linearity and oscillations of adaptations, with implications for archaeological inferences.

Format: Hardback
Length: 314 pages
Publication date: 30 December 2022
Publisher: University Press of Florida


This captivating book delves into the fascinating realms of transitional periods of cultural and environmental change, offering a comprehensive exploration through the lenses of archaeology and ethnography. Spanning across six continents, it traces the human journey from the Late Pleistocene to the present, providing a global comparative perspective on transitional states. The book raises thought-provoking questions about causality and explores hypotheses regarding the processes of cultural change.

Archaeology on the Threshold takes a deep dive into significant transitions, including the profound shift from foraging to agriculture, the embrace of innovative technologies, the rise of large-scale societies, the transition from egalitarian to hierarchical leadership, and the repercussions of climate change and disease on socioeconomic and ideological systems. The theoretical frameworks employed range from processual to postprocessual, humanistic, and interpretive, fostering a multi-dimensional understanding of these transformative processes.

To unravel the complexities of change, the book employs a diverse range of methodologies, including ethnoarchaeology, ethnographic analogy, cross-cultural comparisons, and large-scale data approaches. Oral history, historical records, participant observation, and focus group discussions are also integrated to gather rich insights and perspectives. By challenging archaeologists to reassess long-held assumptions and theoretical positions, this volume aims to refocus inquiry on change-causing and larger evolutionary processes, challenging notions of revolutionary and irreversible change.

Throughout the case studies presented, the book examines and sheds light on assumptions surrounding the linear and oscillatory nature of adaptations, presenting intriguing implications for archaeological inferences. By exploring these transitional periods, Archaeology on the Threshold contributes to our understanding of human history, culture, and the complex interplay between society, environment, and the human experience.


Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780813069531

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