ISSN:
1573-7756
Keywords:
prehistoric archaeology
;
postpositivism
;
epistemology
;
research traditions
;
critical realism
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Archaeology
Notes:
Abstract The paradigm concept as developed in western philosophy of science contexts is reviewed, and the metaphysical paradigms that govern research protocols in mainstream Old and New World prehistoric archaeology are described and compared. It is concluded that post-1970 New World archaeological research receives its intellectual mandate from anthropology, is founded on postpositivist biases, and is governed by a critical-realist ontology, a modified-objectivist epistemology, and an experimental-manipulative methodology. Post-1970 Old World archaeological research is viewed as a kind of history, remains mostly in the strict empiricist tradition, and is governed by a realist ontology, an inductivist epistemology, and by an observational methodology. The claims of various kinds of postprocessual archaeology are also evaluated in terms of the paradigm concept.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01326535
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