Time and History in Prehistory

by: Souvatzi, S. Baysal, A. Baysal, E.L.

Description
Time and History in Prehistory explores the many processes through which time and history are conceptualized and constructed, challenging the perception of prehistoric societies as ahistorical. Drawing equally on contemporary theory and illustrative case studies, and firmly rooted in material evidence, this book rearticulates concepts of time and history, questions the kind of narratives to be written about the past and underlines the fundamentally historical nature of prehistory.

From a range of multi-disciplinary perspectives, the authors of this volume address the scales at which archaeological evidence and narrative are interwoven, from a single day to deep history and from a solitary pot to a complete city. In doing so, they argue the need for a multi-scalar approach to prehistoric data that allows for the interplay between short and long term, and for analytical units that encourage us to move continuously between scales.

The growing interest in time and history in archaeology and across a wide range of disciplines concerned with human action and the human past highlights that these are exceptionally active fields. By juxtaposing varied viewpoints, this volume bridges gaps in narrative, finds a place for inclusive histories and makes clear the benefit of integrative and interdisciplinary approaches, including different disciplines and types of data.

Table of Contents
1. Is there pre-history? STELLA SOUVATZI, ADNAN BAYSAL, EMMA L. BAYSAL

Part 1: Perceptions of the past

2. The Uexküll calibration: chronology and critical flicker fusion frequency DOUGLASS BAILEY

3. Timescales and Telescopes. Optics in the Study of Prehistory. CRISTIAN SIMONETTI

4.Ontology unveiled, serpents remembered, time reconfigured PETER R. SCHMIDT

5.Periodization in Archaeology: starting in the ground GAVIN LUCAS

Part 2: Narrative construction

6.Locked in the Neolithic between Evolution and History TREVOR WATKINS

7. Illustrating Waves of Time in Prehistory and the Annales? Solution. JOHN BINTLIFF

8 What kind of history in prehistory? ALEX BAYLISS and ALASDAIR WHITTLE

9. Concepts of time and history on Chalcolithic tell settlements and Trypillia mega-sites JOHN CHAPMAN and BISSERKA GAYDARSKA

10. Prehistoric histories of Hohokam kin groups BRADLEY E. ENSOR

Part 3: Objects and making history

11. Hyperobjects and Prehistory GRAHAM HARMAN

12. Time Matters: faces, externalised knowledge and transcendence BARBARA ADAM and SANDRA KEMP

13. "I make this standing stone to be a sign": material presence and the temporality of the trace in highland Madagascar ZOË CROSSLAND

14. Contested history-making as part of the building of social networks at Neolithic Çatalhöyük, Turkey IAN HODDER

Epilogue

15. Primevalism: saluting a renamed prehistoryPENELOPE J. CORFIELD

Time and History in Prehistory

by: Souvatzi, S. Baysal, A. Baysal, E.L.

• ISBN-13: 9781138692701 / 978-1-138-69270-1
• ISBN-03: 1138692700 / 1-138-69270-0
• Routledge, London, 2019