Theory in Archaeology

RE-THINKING ROCK ART: BIOGRAPHIES OF RESEARCH, NEW THEORETICAL EXPLORATIONS AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES (STANDARD PAPER)

Session Organisers: Joana Valdez-Tullett; Sofia Figueiredo Soares; Andreia Silva

Abstract: The nature of rock art’s representations, execution techniques, settings, poor understanding of chronology and lack of contexts or features akin to other types of archaeological remains, makes this a difficult subject to approach. Open to much speculation, it is mostly side-lined by mainstream archaeology. Despite its long research biography, rock art studies are typically developed within regional frameworks, raising issues regarding terminology, methodologies and theoretical backgrounds. The introduction of Landscape Archaeology in the 1990s, its new methodological and theoretical approaches, marked an important turning point in rock art research, highlighting the need to bring rock art into mainstream archaeology, given its social role in past societies. Recently, a new revolution in rock art studies began with the introduction of new digital recording methods and other computer techniques, as well as archaeometry and statistical studies, offering opportunities to re-think rock art, reconsider old questions, raising new possibilities of interrogation and further insights into its social and cultural roles. In this session we welcome papers from all chronologies and geographies about rock art’s research biographies; the potential and limitations of old and new approaches; how new approaches challenge old perspectives; the interplay between archaeology and ethnography in rock art studies; the role of digital technologies and what they bring to rock art studies beyond ‘pretty pictures’; the value of multidisciplinarity; the significance of new rock art finds to well established traditions; the role of archaeological theory in rock art studies; rock art’s social and cultural place in the past.

‘Minoans’ have been recognised as pre-Hellenic race or closed ethnic group in Egyptian representations of Aegean figures from Eighteenth Dynasty Theban tombs. Modern construct of ‘Minoans’ thus merged with an ancient Egyptian construct of Aegean foreigners. Previous approaches to Aegean figures in Theban tombs did not pay attention to decorum, context and restricted knowledge. By examining these concepts it is argued in this paper that decorum can transform restricted knowledge into available knowledge for the tomb visitors. The abducted meanings from these images materialized virtual reality different from reality based on the tomb-owner’s restricted knowledge. However, this abducted virtual reality can actually take the form of reality for those who lack specific restricted knowledge. Based on decorum analysis it can be argued that New Kingdom Egyptians perceived Keftiu and its inhabitants as quite close to their cultural concept of ‘north’ and ‘Asia’, observable both in visual and written evidence.

Zusammenfassung: Der Begriff 'Identität' beschreibt einen maßgeblichen Bestandteil für das Selbstverständnis eines Individuums bzw. einer Gruppe. Im Rahmen der Romanisierung interessiert hauptsächlich die kulturelle Identität einer Gruppe. Die Mitglieder dieser Gruppe tragen und erneuern immer wieder ihre Identität durch Wahrnehmung und gemeinsame Erinnerung, auf die das Gedächtnis durch ständige Wiederholung zurückgreifen kann. Identität beruht auf Abgrenzung einer zu einer bestimmten anderen Gruppe, etwa zwischen zwei indigenen Volksstämmen, oder aber der Abgrenzung eines Stammes gegenüber den Römern. Identität ist dynamisch, sie kann sich also nach Maßgabe verändern, sie kann aber auch absichtlich von Personen innerhalb der Gruppe verändert werden. Abstract: The term 'identity' describes a decisive element for the self-understanding of an individual or of a group. In relation to Romanisation the cultural identity of a group is of main interest. The members of that group are carrying and refreshing again and again their identity by observation and common remembrance, on which the memory can fall back upon permanent repetition. Identity is basing on the distinction to another determined group, either between two native tribes or the distinction of a tribe against the Romans. Identity is dynamic, it could change according to condition, but it can be changed intentional by persons within the group.

Egyptology is in wider archaeological and historical context known as a discipline which more often than not lacks reflection on its theoretical and methodological background. Although several volumes which critically deal with the research history in Egyptology appeared in the last few decades, a comprehensive study on the conditions of knowledge about ancient Egypt is still missing. There are several edited volumes and monographs which deal with theory in archaeology and history, however, Egyptology is rarely discussed in these works. This is because Egyptologists rarely reflect on the ways they produce knowledge on ancient Egypt. The aim of this book is to examine specific epistemological trajectories of Egyptology, their crossings with other disciplines such as philology, archaeology, history and anthropology. It closely looks into the so-called paradigm shifts within and outside of the field. In relation to incoming jubilee of 200 years of Egyptology which is celebrated in 2022, the book and its reflection on the field comes in the right time. In several chapter it presents different ways of forming knowledge on Ancient Egypt by antiquarians, evolutionists, philologists, culture-historical archaeologists, processual and post-processual archaeologists. It also examines the influence of gender studies and queer theory on Egyptology, postcolonial criticism of the field and recent new materialist approaches. The book will also investigate forms of knowledge unique for Egyptology, its rare contributions to general archaeological theory and its specific historical conditions rooted in colonial, postcolonial and neocolonial contexts. The book will be useful both to experts in the field and students. It will also benefit to other related fields.

Art and Archaeology: Unmasking Material Culture, volume editor David Barrowclough, General editors David Barrowclough and Mary Chester-Kadwell.

Papers by:
Colin Renfrew: Foreward
David Barrowclough: Art and Archaeology, Unmasking Material Culture: Introduction
James O Young: Archaeology and Aesthetics
Susanne Kuchler: Art and Mathematics
Marcia Langton and Bruno David: Art as Social Momentum; Coming into Being in Yolnu Art
Martin Henig: Icons and Idols: Meeting Romans Through Their Art
Sam Smiles: Antiquity and Modern Art in Britain c.1930-1950
David Barrowclough: How Little Does it Take to Represent a Face?
Ian Whightman: Walking into Existence: Prehistory and the Sculpture of Richard Long
Christine Finn: Maybe Art or Artefact: Cornelia Parker and the Body Behind the Glass (Tilda Swinton and 'The Maybe')
Robert Williams: Disjecta Cogitata

Based on the Viking occupation of Northern England, and in particular the Cuerdale Hoard, found on the River Ribble at Preston, Lancashire, Blackpool Pleasure Beach has developed a roller-coaster ride called Valhalla. The ride combines accurate historical information about the archaeological find, presented on information boards situated at intervals along the line followed by people standing in line waiting to take part in the ride, with a roller coaster ride. This study considers the theme park ride as a way of communicating historical and archaeological information to the public. Blackpool Pleasure Beach is the UKs most popular paying tourist attraction, and reaches a audience to that of traditional museums and galleries, and demonstrates alternative ways of communicating, historical narratives through a combination of heptatic 'felt' bodily experience and information boards.