Sauer, E.W. Ed. 2004. Archaeology and ancient history. Breaking down the boundaries. – London/New York, Routledge

Abstract

This book is a collection of papers originally presented in a session of the Theoretical Archaeology Group Conference in Dublin in 2001, and entitled ‘Breaking down boundaries. The artificial archaeology–ancient history divide.’ Although the speakers represented a wide array of scientific disciplines and views, they all share the belief, according to Sauer, that a more fully integration of archaeological and historical evidence would be beneficial.

Sauer himself, of course, is no friend of boundaries, and therefore there are no geographic and chronological limits of the subjects: they range from Siberia to England, from Ireland to Greece, and chronologically from Late Bronze Age to Late Antiquity. Although there are no contributions on Africa or the Near East, this is only coincidental; no doubt Sauer would have welcomed the insights from these regions as equally relevant to the ancient world. Within the parameters, nine scholars (including Sauer himself), offer their experiences with the division of the various disciplines that study the past. Read more...