Lecture 1.2 – Methodological Gaps in Southeast Asian Archaeology скачать в хорошем качестве

Lecture 1.2 – Methodological Gaps in Southeast Asian Archaeology

Lecture 1.2 – Methodological Gaps in Southeast Asian Archaeology Speaker: Professor Miriam Stark Department of Anthropology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa The second part of the first lecture, delivered by Professor Miriam Stark, began with the strengths of Southeast Asian archaeology, including its deep hominin evolutionary history, early narrative rock art, pioneering use of aerial archaeology, abundance of first and second millennium CE excavated stoneware kilns, and rich shipwreck archaeology. Prof. Stark proposes three fundamental assumptions for good archaeological practice: • Research questions should drive the methods used, and findings should reshape questions to better fit the data, always privileging the archaeological record over preconceived theoretical models. • Theory and methods are intertwined, and methods should always be selected to suit research questions, not just because they are new or available. • High-quality archaeological data, obtained through conventional archaeological research, is indispensable as the foundation for any advanced technical studies. The central problem identified is the tendency to privilege theoretical models, often Western-derived, over empirical data, leading to "stifling paradigms" that force data into unsuitable models. She discusses various archaeological methods, categorizing them as conventional archaeological methods and archaeological science, emphasizing that basic research using conventional methods must underpin more technical studies. She provides examples of successful sites and projects that demonstrate the value of meticulous, long-term conventional fieldwork in enabling advanced analyses. The methodological gaps of Southeast Asia archaeology in this lecture are: 1. Over-reliance on Culture Historical Approaches and insufficient theoretical engagement o Archaeologists sometimes focus too much on simply collecting radio carbon dates or arguing about the ‘earliest’ occurrences of phenomena (e.g., agriculture, metallurgy), rather than delving into the "why" and "how" of these adoptions and changes. This ‘earliest’ pursuit is problematic because new discoveries constantly push back dates, and it is not inherently interesting without broader theoretical questions. 2. Lack of confidence among archaeologists, leading to deference to other fields o Many archaeologists defer to specialists in other fields (e.g., geneticists, geologists) to frame research questions, instead of formulating their own archaeologically relevant questions and then collaborating with specialists to answer them. This can lead to interpretations that are not archaeologically sound or are based on simplistic models (e.g., two-layer migration hypotheses). 3. Insufficient basic research in key cultural materials and comparative studies o There is a lack of high-quality, well-documented basic research in areas like archaeobotany, zooarchaeology, and ceramic analysis. This makes it difficult to conduct meaningful comparative studies across subregions and through time. While advanced analytical techniques are popular, the foundational work of describing and analysing assemblages is often overlooked, limiting the ability to understand broader trends and the representativeness of findings from individual sites. 4. Too few regional archaeological surveys o There is a significant lack of systematic regional archaeological surveys, which hinders the ability to compare regions within Southeast Asia comprehensively. This type of “unsexy" but crucial work is essential for understanding settlement patterns and broader regional dynamics. 5. Inadequate technical expertise to make comparisons o Beyond the lack of basic data, there's also a shortage of specialists trained in specific technical analyses (e.g., ceramic analysis, archaeobotany, palynology, phytolith analysis) who can consistently apply these methods to create comparable datasets across sites and regions.