Review of Post-Processualism Post –Processualism is the post-modernist in Archaeology Questions rationality Objectivity Science as an Intellectual structure science is not politically neutral

Components of Post-Processual Research Structure Interpretation, not explanation Interpretation as relative, contingent and subjective (because objectivity is not possible) giving voice to the disenfranchized Multiple views/voices of the past--- Big ideas: ideology, gender, power, agency, ethnicity How distinguish between various versions of the past? ( Evaluation is not stressed.)

CONTRIBUTIONS OF POST-PROCESSUALISM Generated Considerable Debate The Political Context of Archaeology Broadening the Discipline in terms of Practioners Research Questions The Structure of Museums Archaeological Ethics

Ideas in Science and Post-Processualism What is theory? Theory in Science: Coherent intellectual structure Terms and relations between terms laid out Theory is narrowly and precisely defined explanatory theory--- Addresses the question of WHY

THEORY IN POST-PROCESSUALISM Theory as Ideas Why do archaeology social and cultural context of archaeology “All Observations are theory-laden” Theory as Attitude ( Michael Shanks) Philosophy: Agency, Marxism, Hemenuitics