Cultural Identity and Archaeology: The Construction of European Communities

Front Cover
P. Graves-Brown, Sian Jones, C.S. Gamble
Routledge, Apr 15, 2013 - Social Science - 304 pages

Cultural identity is a key area of debate in contemporary Europe. Despite widespread use of the past in the construction of ethnic, national and European identity, theories of cultural identity have been neglected in archaeology. Focusing on the interrelationships between concepts of cultural identity today and the interpretation of past cultural groups, Cultural Identity and Archaeology offers proactive archaeological perspectives in the debate surrounding European identities.

This fascinating and thought-provoking book covers three key areas. It considers how material remains are used in the interpretation of cultural identities, for example ‘pan-Celtic culture’ and ‘Bronze Age Europe’. Finally, it looks at archaeological evidence for the construction of cultural identities in the European past.

The authors are critical of monolithic constructions of Europe, and also of the ethnic and national groups within it. in place of such exclusive cultural, political and territorial entities the book argues for a consideration of the diverse, hybrid and multiple nature of European cultural identities.

 

Contents

archaeology and cultural identity in Europe
1
The genealogy of material culture and cultural identity
25
Discourses of identity in the interpretation of the past
62
discourses of history and place in
74
All things bright and beautiful? Species ethnicity
81
One Europe one past?
116
Prehistory and the identity of Europe or dont lets
125
European origins civilisation and barbarism
138
ideological manipulations in Spanish
179
archetypes in Iron Age studies
196
on the poetics and scientifics
209
the case
228
the theoretical basis
238
between multiculturalism
256
77
271
1
275

Farmers our ancestors and the identity of Europe
145
Celts and politics
167

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About the author (2013)

Paul Graves-Brown is a Research Fellow in the Department of Psychology, University of Southampton. He researches in interdisciplinary areas, particularly human origins and the relationships between material culture and mental processes.

Siân Jones is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Archaeology, University of Southampton and has written and researched on ethnicity and archaeology.

Clive Gamble is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Southampton and has published extensively on the Palaeolithic.

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