Death by Theory

A Tale of Mystery and Archaeological Theory

By (author) Adrian Praetzellis professor of anthropology, Sonoma State University; author of Dug to Death

Publication date:

16 January 2011

Length of book:

198 pages

Publisher

AltaMira Press

Dimensions:

240x161mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9780759119574

A European Neolithic burial. A large stone Venus. Nothing unusual except that it was found on an island in the Pacific Northwest. Archaeologist Hannah Green and her shovelbum nephew find themselves in a tangled web of competing interests - avaricious land owners, hungry media, and a cult of goddess worshippers - while investigating one of the finds of the century. In untangling the mystery of the Washington Venus, Hannah and Sean have to confront questions of archaeological evidence, conflicting interpretation of data, and the very nature of archaeological truths. This thoroughly updated version of an archaeological classic allows you to learn the basics of archaeological theory while puzzling out a mysterious turn of events.

Chapter 1 Acknowledgments
Chapter 2 Introduction to the New Edition
Chapter 3 Chapter 1. "A" is for Archaeology, in which Dr. Green and Mr. Doyle Are Enlisted
Chapter 4 Chapter 2. "A" is (also) for Artifact, in which We Learn That Sometimes a Rock Is Just a Rock
Chapter 5 Chapter 3. "B" is for Binford, in which We Learn What's New about Archaeology
Chapter 6 Chapter 4. "C" is for Culture Process & "E" is for Ethnoarchaeology, in which We Learn How the New Archeology Grew Old
Chapter 7 Chapter 5. "D" is for Diffusion, in which Dr. Green Goes from Diffusion to Confusion
Chapter 8 Chapter 6. "M" is for Materialism, in which We Look into the Mind of a Cannibal
Chapter 9 Chapter 7. "G" is for Gender, in which Controversy Is En-Gendered
Chapter 10 Chapter 8. "M" is for Marx (Karl, That Is), in which Mr. Doyle's Ancestors Are Outed
Chapter 11 Chapter 9. "A" is for Agency & "N" is for Neoevolutionism, in which the Crew Adapts to their Environment
Chapter 12 Chapter 10. "P" is for Postmodern, in which a Postmodern Kind of Truth Is Told
Chapter 13 Epilogue: In Which Everyone Gets Just What They Get
Chapter 14 For Further Reading
Chapter 15 Talking Points
Chapter 16 Glossary
Chapter 17 Index
Chapter 18 About the Author/Illustrator

The author's droll humor helps incorporate theory within many other aspects of archaeology—CRM, field methods, the public, even issues of professionalism. Having taught archaeological theory for many years, I appreciate the revised edition, which is nicely updated to include more illustrations, concepts such as 'agency,' and new references and websites.