An issue I have with this weeks blog post is a problem that likely, lots of archaeologists have to deal with...I don't believe I would want to be buried, also obviously meaning I wouldn't have any grave goods with me, and likely little to nothing to tell about my life once all those I know are also gone.
This seems to be just the hugest issue in archaeology, as we probably have the absolute smallest fraction of remains actually left to work with. Not only do lots of things degrade over time, but I imagine that many cultures practice cremation, extensive funerary practices while leaving very little as remains (ie. the Funeral of a Rus), and many other combinations!
I kind of love the idea of cremated ashes being spread where you will always be around the earth (somewhere), likely in all sorts of different places as time passes. I'm not sure how I feel about keeping grave goods, but in reading Erin's "Burying me" blog post, realized that a tree rather than a stone marker is potentially the most beautiful idea I've heard!
Clearly I'm going to have to put a bit more thought into what I'd like with my death. Hopefully I've got a good amount of time to think about it!
Friday, 25 January 2013
Friday, 18 January 2013
Use of analogies in archaeology?
In reading Brian John's blog on the analogy he explored, relating Stonehenge, Bluestonhenge, and Woodhenge in Wales to ritual/funerary practices in Madagascar, my (already established) hesistation to draw cross-cultural analogies was reinforced. As John explored, and was supported by a friend who was extremely familiar with the area, there is actually very little in common between the two places. He thinks it is a mistake to attempt to make analogies between two areas that have virtually nothing to do with each other, despite potential funerary practices and worship rituals.
While I agree that it is a huge mistake to apply our cultural knowledge to to the cultures of others, particularly when we have little to no evidence of the culture at the time to which it dates; I also think that it is natural to search for similarities cross-culturally in an attempt to understand some (perhaps, if it even exists?) human universals, or common patterns. I don't believe that there will ever be a universal - there will always be exceptions, but there are likely some similarities, and I think archaeologists (along with all sorts of people!) will always be searching for that. It is difficult to me to draw a line between applying ethnocentric views to other cultural areas; although I think it wrong to do so, I also think that little to nothing could be formulated if no analogies (and perhaps some culturally educated imagination from the area in question to fill in the blanks) were used.
This is an area of archaeology that has always been so difficult for me to grasp (likely, as little can be actually quantified, and in text books I repeatedly find myself reading: "but remember, this isn't universal!") Wouldn't it be lovely if this disclaimer could be at the beginning of the chapter, so we could proceed to learn about particular areas and cultural practices? We should certainly be taught to think critically, to question the universality of evidence/claims, but also be free to make some connections cross-culturally?
If this made any sense at all. :) Happy friday everyone!
While I agree that it is a huge mistake to apply our cultural knowledge to to the cultures of others, particularly when we have little to no evidence of the culture at the time to which it dates; I also think that it is natural to search for similarities cross-culturally in an attempt to understand some (perhaps, if it even exists?) human universals, or common patterns. I don't believe that there will ever be a universal - there will always be exceptions, but there are likely some similarities, and I think archaeologists (along with all sorts of people!) will always be searching for that. It is difficult to me to draw a line between applying ethnocentric views to other cultural areas; although I think it wrong to do so, I also think that little to nothing could be formulated if no analogies (and perhaps some culturally educated imagination from the area in question to fill in the blanks) were used.
This is an area of archaeology that has always been so difficult for me to grasp (likely, as little can be actually quantified, and in text books I repeatedly find myself reading: "but remember, this isn't universal!") Wouldn't it be lovely if this disclaimer could be at the beginning of the chapter, so we could proceed to learn about particular areas and cultural practices? We should certainly be taught to think critically, to question the universality of evidence/claims, but also be free to make some connections cross-culturally?
If this made any sense at all. :) Happy friday everyone!
Friday, 11 January 2013
Arch 397 Intro
Hey!
My name is Kelsey, and I'm in my third year of University here at UVic. I'm an Anthropology major, and am super passionate about both cultural and physical anthropology. I am, however, also pretty excited to take this course, as it will likely help in my understanding of archaeology, and it should be pretty great to look more into it through a topic that has been of interest to all humans...forever (I can only imagine). I'm hoping to learn about European archaeology, and am excited that Erin's work is primarily from there as it is of great interest to me!
A little about myself...I work in an office at UVic, which is pretty convenient as I'm always on campus! I am still afraid of spiders, and I quite enjoy almost all music, along with many movies and books. As of now, I'm still pretty unsure of what I'd like to do after I grad. To travel, extensively, and to explore/live in other cities are certainly high on my list, and I'd like to (ideally) further look into my career options as a cultural or physical anthropologist; however, physiotherapy and nursing have also been of huge interest to me. Somehow I feel that an Anth degree would serve me well in this field. We'll see!
My name is Kelsey, and I'm in my third year of University here at UVic. I'm an Anthropology major, and am super passionate about both cultural and physical anthropology. I am, however, also pretty excited to take this course, as it will likely help in my understanding of archaeology, and it should be pretty great to look more into it through a topic that has been of interest to all humans...forever (I can only imagine). I'm hoping to learn about European archaeology, and am excited that Erin's work is primarily from there as it is of great interest to me!
A little about myself...I work in an office at UVic, which is pretty convenient as I'm always on campus! I am still afraid of spiders, and I quite enjoy almost all music, along with many movies and books. As of now, I'm still pretty unsure of what I'd like to do after I grad. To travel, extensively, and to explore/live in other cities are certainly high on my list, and I'd like to (ideally) further look into my career options as a cultural or physical anthropologist; however, physiotherapy and nursing have also been of huge interest to me. Somehow I feel that an Anth degree would serve me well in this field. We'll see!
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