Features
- Cover Type: Paperback with 304 pages
- Published by: Anchor; Rev Exp Su edition August 1, 1996
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 0385483996
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-0385483995
-
Book Dimensions:
7.8 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
- Weighs: 9.1 ounces
Reader Reviews
The main thrust of Deetz's argument in this book points to the incomplete nature of the traditional historian's approach to understanding past societies. By focusing only on written documentation, traditional historians necessarily confine the groups they can examine to literate societies, thereby excluding most people in the history of human existence. Furthermore, written documents contain the bias of the author, and so cannot always be trusted. Deetz argues that historical archaeology and the study of material culture opens the door to understanding a far wider band of human societies, and can further help us relate to the literate cultures we study, by providing corroborating evidence, in some cases, and filling in the gaps overlooked in traditional written documents in other cases. This work focuses mainly on early New England societies, but the research methods Deetz puts forth readily adapt to studies in other areas. The fact that this book still stands as required reading on university course lists 25 years after its first publication testifies to its usefulness...
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