Anthropology 2229F/G Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Ethnography
18 Jul 2012
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Example of a good archaeological theory: 1. Stone age bronze age iron age. Explanatory people have not always been the same and have changed over time. Technological progress, shift from stone to bronze to iron. Dates back to ancient greeks, romans, chinese but not tested until christian thomsen. Had to power to outline cultural evolution. Could explain variation; represent a time sequence. Explained a large number of other observations. If the three age theory worked, could also explain variability in material and form of tools. Different classes of theory: all theories that archaeologists use can be divided into: Develop chronology: objects change in certain ways over time. Sometimes called transformation theory: focus on transformation of sites, etc. Dealing with theories what the lifestyle/cultures of the people in the past were. Generalizations of how past cultures developed, worked, statements of behaviour, etc. Deals with cultural theory; only questions anthropologists ask. Not distinct, have to build on the other levels.
