Reading the Past

by Ian Hodder

This is a completely revised edition of Ian Hodder's controversial textbook first published in 1986. The mainstream archaeology of the seventies, 'processual archaeology', modelled itself on the natural sciences. It has been challenged in recent years by a 'post-processual' archaeology which draws upon the wider perspectives of history and social anthropology, insisting that account must be taken of the context and meaning of behaviour, and that the ideological uses of archaeology be recognised by practitioners. Ian Hodder, a leading figure in the new movement, argues that in explaining the behaviour of past societies a concern with meaning must be joined to the study of ecological constraints and economic and social processes. This leads him to discuss systems theory and structuralist and Marxist approaches in archaeology.

Genres: Archaeology, Nonfiction, Anthropology, History, Science, Material Culture, Reference

208 pages, Hardcover

First published November 27, 1986

About the author

Ian Hodder is Dunleavie Family Professor of Archaeology at Stanford University. A Fellow of the British Academy, he has received numerous awards for his accomplishments, including the Oscar Montelius Medal from the Swedish Society of Antiquaries, the Huxley Memorial Medal by the Royal Anthropological Institute, the Fyssen International Prize, and the Gold Medal by the Archaeological Institute of America, along with honorary doctorates from the Bristol and Leiden Universities. Hodder is the author of numerous books, including Symbols in Action (Cambridge, 1982), Reading the Past (Cambridge, 1982), and Entangled: An Archaeology of the Relationships between Humans and Things (2012).

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the few works in critical theory that I read cover to cover by choice. The text goes through various schools of archaeological thought (Marxist, cultural-historical, structuralist, etc.), revealing their respective strengths and critiquing holes in their epistemologies. Some of the major themes that run through each chapter include the agency of individuals, materialism vs. idealism, and the inevitability of interpretation. While the writing could stand to be a bit punchier, Hodder mounts his critiques quite clearly, and makes a formidable argument for post-processualism. I've read a few other anthologies that try simplifying these same topics to make them more digestible for undergrads, but this book manages to be far more understandable without being condescending; compared to authors like Spivak or Bourdieu, this is a fairly accessible theoretical work.

[Έρση Λάβαρη · Rating 3 out of 5]

Κείμενο πολύ καλό, προσεγμένο κι επιμελημένο, με άρτια εμφάνιση και δομή. Ωστόσο, για κάποιον που δεν διαθέτει γνώσεις σχετικά με το αντικείμενο της νέας αρχαιολογίας και των ρευμάτων της, είναι σίγουρα δυσνόητο και ελλιπώς τεκμηριωμένο.

[Anna P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Critique here and there, but overall a good comprehensive start for arch theory.

Slow in the first few sections and I felt that it didn’t highlight the origins of the older (or should I say “older”) theoretical frameworks which in my other studies, I would say is vital to understanding their position and thus rejection by the greater archaeology community today.

Not so good origin stories leads to theories built out of imperialist/Western houses and are then perpetuated. That’s discussed later as critical to understand in interpretation, but not referenced as part of the dissection of say, processualism.

[Lauren Webster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty engaging throughout, I especially loved the parts about how different cultures and languages cannot be viewed from our own perspective and we can’t truly ever hope to put ourselves in their perspective.

[Carole-Lesley Rowland · Rating 3 out of 5]

it is as one would expect informative

[Ellana Thornton-Wheybrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are parts of this which I think are grasping at straws a little, but overall an interesting book

[leenbeanz · Rating 3 out of 5]

yes, I read this for class and yes, it still counts! very engaging but soooooo wordy. I'm on my hands and knees begging academics to learn how to get to their goddamn point......

[Xarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boy, now that was fun reading. Boy, I do love theory. I guess the book would be better if it was a little more approachable. I found it to lack enough examples to fully understand the concepts the authors were proposing; not that I really cared all that much anyways. I wouldn't have read this on my own, but class dictated that I read it. Boy, that was fun.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chapters cover major interpretive theories & approaches used by archaeologists. Presumes familiarity with theorists of the 19th - 20th century. Good for advanced undergrads or grad students who are familiar with theory & archaeology.

I found it difficult to read and I've done field work and took a PhD exam that included archaeological theory.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book