Memory and Material Culture

Topics in Contemporary Archaeology

by Andrew Jones

In this book, Andrew Jones argues that the material world offers a vital framework for the formation of collective memory. He uses the topic of memory to critique the treatment of artifacts as symbols by interpretative archaeologists and artifacts as units of information (or memes) by behavioral archaeologists, instead arguing for a treatment of artifacts as forms of mnemonic trace that have an impact on the senses. Using detailed case studies from prehistoric Europe, he further argues that archaeologists can study the relationship between mnemonic traces in the form of networks of reference in artefactual and architectural forms.

274 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2007

Reviews

[Katia M. Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Throughout the reading of this text I had one reoccurring thought..."sometimes a pot is just a pot."