Archaeologies of Materiality (Hardback)

"I would recommend this book to a number of audiences. For those who wish to educate themselves on the theoretical direction in archaeology... For those already working in the theoretical and investigative direction, the book offers a range of vocabulary and expressive styles." (Cambridge Archaeological Journal, February 2007) "This volume forces us to bring into focus our supposedly transparent 'materialism' and recognize that the 'things' we use to 'know a people' elude our classic taxonomies and trouble our social theoretical categories. Calling into question a simple dichotomy of objects as 'purely functional or deeply symbolic' this volume helps us understand how 'materiality is problematic not only for our classical versions of material determinism but equally for many of our 'new' and 'post' theories of signification." (Cambridge Archaeological Journal) "This book crosses boundaries between anthropology, material culture studies, and archaeology, in an attempt to strengthen a burgeoning movement toward looking at archaeological materials through the lens of materiality... it would be appropriate reading for all archaeologists interested in further exploring the relationships between social concepts and material culture." (Canadian journal of Archaeology) "Readers less interested in specific approach to materiality will find value in the various reflections on the subject and practice of archaeology in this volume." (American Antiquity)