Archaeological Theory in the New Millennium Introducing Current Perspectives

Archaeological Theory in the New Millennium provides an account of the changing world of archaeological theory and a challenge to more traditional narratives of archaeological thought. It charts the emergence of the new emphasis on relations as well as engaging with other current theoretical trends and the thinkers archaeologists regularly employ. Bringing together different strands of global archaeological theory and placing them in dialogue, the book explores the similarities and differences between different contemporary trends in theory while also highlighting potential strengths and weaknesses of different approaches. Written in a way to maximise its accessibility, in direct contrast to many of the sources on which it draws, Archaeological Theory in the New Millennium is an essential guide to cutting-edge theory for students and for professionals wishing to reacquaint themselves with this field.

1. An introduction to contemporary archaeological theory: confronting dualisms 2. Beyond paradigms: a potted history of archaeological thought 3. Between thoughts and things: theorising practice and agency 4. Situating things in society: identity and personhood 5. Secret lives of things: object agency and biography 6. Things make people? Considering materiality, phenomenology, experience and entanglement 7. Mediating the world: archaeological semiotics 8. Finding symmetry: Actor-Network-Theory and new materialism 9. Multi-species archaeology: people, plants and animals 10. ‘Others’: postcolonialism, the ontological turn and colonised things 11. On breaking walls and building relations: a conclusion

Oliver J. T. Harris is Associate Professor of Archaeology in the School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester, UK. Craig N. Cipolla is Associate Curator of North American Archaeology, Royal Ontario Museum, Canada.