Tools of Archaeology: Toward an Integrated History of Archaeology

Abstract

Histories of archaeology have, in the last decade, widened their scope of analysis. As Archaeology is seen as a network of practitioners, practices, ideas, institutions, and other elements, the possibilities for discourses on invisible elements in its historiography are increasingly surfacing. The present article strives toward an integrated History of Archaeology, uniting human and non-human elements. Tools and instruments bridge the gap between both, and will thus be analyzed, from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day (c. 120 years). For this purpose, 17 archaeological fieldwork manuals were selected. The tools and instruments were grouped in several distinct assemblages, reflecting their characteristics and roles during fieldwork. With this empirical data, some considerations on how tools and instruments are used, viewed, and discarded are offered. Ultimately, we will ponder how post-anthropocentric and anthropocentric histories of archaeology can enrich themselves, thus striving to open new research horizons for the discipline.

Keywords

• history of archaeology
• tools
• instruments
• assemblages
• archaeological manuals