Archaeological Theory in Practice

Patricia A. Urban is the J. Kenneth Smail Professor of Anthropology at Kenyon College. She is, by training, a "dirt" archaeologist specializing in the prehistory of Mesoamerica. For over 20 years she has worked in Honduras, investigating the relationship of the prehistoric cultures of western Honduras to their better-known neighbors, the Maya. Some of the topics she has worked on include settlement patterns, site planning, ceramic production and other aspects of political economy, and the expression of identity through material culture. She has written extensively on these topics. Edward Schortman is Professor and Chair of Anthropology at Kenyon College. His interests range widely, and he teach courses at Kenyon dealing with archaeology and cultural anthropology, the living and past cultures of North, Central, and South America, the anthropology of politics, and the history of anthropological thought. His principal research focuses on two related topics: the manner in which rulers and those they seek to rule contend for political power within hierarchical societies; and the impact of external ties on local social and political developments. He has written numerous articles and books dealing with these issues.

PrefaceChapter 1: Theory, Perception, and Explanation: World Views and ScienceChapter 2: Theories, Perceptions, and Explanations in the Social SciencesChapter 3: Dimensions of Theory in ArchaeologyChapter 4: Putting Theories Together: Archaeological SchoolsChapter 5: Theorizing StonehengeChapter 6: Taking on the State in Southern MesopotamiaChapter 7: Initiating Research in the Naco ValleyChapter 8: Crafting Power in the Late Classic Naco Valley Chapter 9: Practicing PowerChapter 10: Conclusions GlossaryReferences IndexAbout the authors