Unleashing Knowledge and Structuring Notes: Archaeological 'Archives' and Their Historiographies

By: Rubina, Raja

The rapidly evolving field of archive archaeology has, in recent years, been shaped by global concerns. These include the decolonization of archaeological practice, the protection of cultural heritage in conflict zones, and the accelerating impact of climate change. Yet this field is far from new, and long before these pressures emerged, scholars recognized the unique value of archaeological notes, records, and documentation, even when they were scattered, unprocessed, and never intended to form coherent archives. Such materials offer far more insights into excavated objects than often acknowledged: they reveal the histories of research agendas, personal and political networks, institutional dynamics, and the very making of archaeological knowledge. Based on a conference devoted to excavations in the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East, and Egypt during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, this volume highlights both the methodological innovations and the enduring challenges of working with archival collections. Contributors explore the responsibilities inherent in accessing and interpreting archival materials, the soft power exercised by the institutions that hold them, and the ethical imperative to ensure accessibility. Together, they chart a path towards more transparent, comparative, and critically informed approaches to archaeological archives, illuminating both their remarkable potential and their complex legacies.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 2503626947
• ISBN13: 9782503626949
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Brepols Publishers
• Length: 352 Pages