Theme:
5. Theories and methods in archaeology: interactions between disciplines
Session format:
Regular session
Title:
Archaeology and Its Political Uses: Historical, Historiographic and Ideological Discourses
Content:
Archaeology as an academic field of studies has never been separated from politics and from various ideological influences. The research of the material remains of the past is fundamentally influenced by financial constrains, institutional frameworks and academic discourses. Historiographic approaches connected to the history of archaeology have demonstrated the close relationship between archaeological research and political systems, particularly in the context of nation building processes and under totalitarian regimes. The aim of the session is to go beyond these examples and interpretations, and to offer a broader perspective on different political instrumentalisation processes.
Papers will discuss how particular aspects of human history and their relevant archaeological materials were selected by archaeologist, other scholars, politicians, social movements and governments to support the nation building process in the 19th and 20th century, or in contemporary Europe. Interpretational frameworks range from Siedlungsarchäologie to ethnogenesis, from cultural history to archaeogenetics, and topics are selected to demonstrate the academic side of these relevant scholarly issues. At the same time, political structures, movements and organizations representing empires or processes that led to European integration will be discussed through historical or ideological discourses related to cultural, ethnic and religious differences.
The session invites speakers willing to present historical examples of political instrumentalisation, and ready to discuss the contribution of archaeologists or academic research directions in these processes. Relevant topics include reception history, identity building and community involvement in their historical context. Archaeological sites are often transformed to national memorial places, which are often used for political manifestations. Methodological and theoretical debates within archaeology and in connection to other academic disciplines are also part of the themes to be presented in this session. The historiographic approach is one of the key factors in these discussions, as it is relevant for present archaeological discourses.
Keywords:
political history, ideological discourse, archaeological heritage, historiography, nation building, identity
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no
Session associated with CAA:
no
Session associated with DGUF:
no
Session associated with other:
Main organiser:
József Laszlovszky (Hungary) 1
Co-organisers:
Benedek Varga (Hungary) 2
Petar Parvanov (Bulgaria) 1
Affiliations:
1. Central European University
2. Hungarian National Museum
THIS SESSION CAN NOT BE SELECTED AT THIS MOMENT