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The Emperor's New Clothes? The Utility of Identity in Roman Archaeology.
- Source :
-
American Journal of Archaeology . Oct2007, Vol. 111 Issue 4, p693-713. 21p. 8 Diagrams, 1 Chart. - Publication Year :
- 2007
-
Abstract
- This paper discusses the concept of identity as an increasingly central research theme in Anglo-American Roman archaeology. The first part provides an overview and critique of the issue in recent academic discourse, highlighting some potential theoretical and methodological problems. I argue that, if pursued uncritically, there is a danger that approaches to identity are reducible to the search for diversity for diversity's sake, and even worse, that identity is simply read off from archaeological remains in a culture-historical fashion. In the second part, I use two case studies to outline a new approach to the construction of narratives of identity that emphasizes the constitution of identity through dynamic social practices instead of a direct one-to-one relationship between identity and static material culture. I contend that identity is best investigated through methodologies specifically designed to elucidate aspects of social practice through archaeological evidence rather than simply identify variability in material culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00029114
- Volume :
- 111
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- American Journal of Archaeology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 27130552
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3764/aja.111.4.693