Where Are We Going? - Attitudes Towards Migrations in Archaeological Thought

Abstract

Migrations have always been a much debated topic in archaeology. In the first hal f of the 20th century migrations were a common explanation for change in the material culture, but they were also used in a nationalistic and chauvinistic way. After the Second World War a reaction came and many archaeologists rejected migrations as a relevant explanation, whereby migrations more or less disappeared from the archaeological discourse. Such changes in the archaeological interest could be linked to public opinions of the times, as well as to reactions within the discipline. In conclusion it is argued that a discussion about past migrations is important, not least in order to question prevailing ideas about a cultural homogeneity or "pureness" in the past.