The Body as Material Culture: A Theoretical OsteoarchaeologyBodies intrigue us. They promise windows into the past that other archaeological finds cannot by bringing us literally face to face with history. Yet 'the body' is also highly contested. Archaeological bodies are studied through two contrasting perspectives that sit on different sides of a disciplinary divide. On one hand lie science-based osteoarchaeological approaches. On the other lie understandings derived from recent developments in social theory that increasingly view the body as a social construction. Through a close examination of disciplinary practice, Joanna Sofaer highlights the tensions and possibilities offered by one particular kind of archaeological body, the human skeleton, with particular regard to the study of gender and age. Using a range of examples, she argues for reassessment of the role of the skeletal body in archaeological practice, and develops a theoretical framework for bioarchaeology based on the materiality and historicity of human remains. |
Contents
The body as an archaeological resource | 12 |
The body and convention in archaeological practice | 31 |
Material bodies | 62 |
Sex and gender | 89 |
Age | 117 |
References | 144 |
Other editions - View all
The Body as Material Culture: A Theoretical Osteoarchaeology Joanna R. Sofaer No preview available - 2006 |
Common terms and phrases
activities adult analysis approaches archae archaeological body archaeological contexts archaeological practice Archaeological Science artefacts becomes behaviour Benthien bioarchaeology biological body bodies and objects body as material body in archaeology bone boundaries cultural construction dead body death dichotomy disciplinary discipline discourse distinction embodiment emphasis Ensay explore facets female focus gender archaeology human body human remains human skeleton ical identified implications individuals Ingold interpretative archaeology investigation Journal of Osteoarchaeology life-ways linked living body London male material culture material qualities means Meskell method methodological Molleson mortuary contexts nature and culture Neolithic notion ological ology osteoar osteoarchaeology and interpretative osteoarthritis osteological palaeopathology particular perspective Physical Anthropology physical body physiological plasticity potential processes recognise regarded relationship Robb Routledge senescence sex and gender sexual sexually dimorphic skeletal body social practices Sofaer Derevenski Sofaer Derevenski 2000c Sørensen specific Stirland stress tensions theoretical theory Tilley tion Toren understanding
Popular passages
Page 156 - The past as oral history: towards an archaeology of the senses', in Y.