The Triviality of the New Innovation and Impact in Archaeology and Beyond
What drives archaeology? Is it new empirical discoveries, new methods or new theory? These factors combined are the fuel of the discipline, is the obvious answer. However, debates and research articles frequently reveal how a perceived need for novelty, originality and impact tends to disentangle t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Svenska Arkeologiska Samfundet
2018-12-01
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| Series: | Current Swedish Archaeology |
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| Online Access: | https://193.10.12.85:443/csa/article/view/145 |
| _version_ | 1797861317032280064 |
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| author | Tim Flohr Sørensen |
| author_facet | Tim Flohr Sørensen |
| author_sort | Tim Flohr Sørensen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
What drives archaeology? Is it new empirical discoveries, new methods or new theory? These factors combined are the fuel of the discipline, is the obvious answer. However, debates and research articles frequently reveal how a perceived need for novelty, originality and impact tends to disentangle this triumvirate of archaeological virtues, giving precedence to one asset over others as the supposed driving force. Focusing on archaeological theory, this article taps into current discussions of the nature of archaeological change, reviewing debates on the formation of archaeological theory, its legitimisation and usefulness. Specifically, I address a recent claim that archaeological theory too readily undermines itself by adopting immature ideas and concepts from other disciplines in an uncritical pursuit of novelty. Finally, I discuss how archaeology may contribute more generally to the formation of theory in the humanities by returning so-called borrowed theory.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:00:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eda3b97e66604ef0955a03061982133d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1102-7355 2002-3901 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:00:18Z |
| publishDate | 2018-12-01 |
| publisher | Svenska Arkeologiska Samfundet |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Swedish Archaeology |
| spelling | doaj.art-eda3b97e66604ef0955a03061982133d2023-03-24T02:25:38ZengSvenska Arkeologiska SamfundetCurrent Swedish Archaeology1102-73552002-39012018-12-0126110.37718/CSA.2018.09The Triviality of the New Innovation and Impact in Archaeology and BeyondTim Flohr Sørensen0University of Copenhagen, The Saxo Institute What drives archaeology? Is it new empirical discoveries, new methods or new theory? These factors combined are the fuel of the discipline, is the obvious answer. However, debates and research articles frequently reveal how a perceived need for novelty, originality and impact tends to disentangle this triumvirate of archaeological virtues, giving precedence to one asset over others as the supposed driving force. Focusing on archaeological theory, this article taps into current discussions of the nature of archaeological change, reviewing debates on the formation of archaeological theory, its legitimisation and usefulness. Specifically, I address a recent claim that archaeological theory too readily undermines itself by adopting immature ideas and concepts from other disciplines in an uncritical pursuit of novelty. Finally, I discuss how archaeology may contribute more generally to the formation of theory in the humanities by returning so-called borrowed theory. https://193.10.12.85:443/csa/article/view/145archaeological theorynoveltyimpactborrowingObject-Oriented Ontology |
| spellingShingle | Tim Flohr Sørensen The Triviality of the New Innovation and Impact in Archaeology and Beyond Current Swedish Archaeology archaeological theory novelty impact borrowing Object-Oriented Ontology |
| title | The Triviality of the New Innovation and Impact in Archaeology and Beyond |
| title_full | The Triviality of the New Innovation and Impact in Archaeology and Beyond |
| title_fullStr | The Triviality of the New Innovation and Impact in Archaeology and Beyond |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Triviality of the New Innovation and Impact in Archaeology and Beyond |
| title_short | The Triviality of the New Innovation and Impact in Archaeology and Beyond |
| title_sort | triviality of the new innovation and impact in archaeology and beyond |
| topic | archaeological theory novelty impact borrowing Object-Oriented Ontology |
| url | https://193.10.12.85:443/csa/article/view/145 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT timflohrsørensen thetrivialityofthenewinnovationandimpactinarchaeologyandbeyond AT timflohrsørensen trivialityofthenewinnovationandimpactinarchaeologyandbeyond |