Interrogating Networks (Paperback)

Lin Foxhall

ISBN 10: 1789256275 / ISBN 13: 9781789256277

Editore: Oxbow Books, Oxford, 2021

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Paperback. Over the past decade network theory and methodologies have become central to exploring and explaining social, economic and political relationships and connections in past societies. However, as van Oyen (2017) has pointed out the use of networks has often been more descriptive than analytical, and methodologies have often depended upon underlying assumptions which inevitably simplify complex relationships of many kinds, and which may or may not be solidly supported by our generally fragmentary and heterogenous data and evidence. In ancient societies, we must infer the movement of knowledge of 'how to make things' largely from the objects themselves because we usually lack direct evidence of the human relationships which might have connected people to objects and their makers. The chapters in this volume aim to interrogate the interpretative potential of network concepts for understanding the movement over time and space of ideas about how to make things through a range of archaeological case studies which reveal both functional and dysfunctional relationships. The purpose is to consider how more broadly contextualised and multi-faceted studies can both enhance, and be enhanced by, network and related approaches. While there is much work on the use of formal, less formal and informal network theory, methodologies, including agent-based modelling, with the exception of Astrid van Oyen's work, far less thought has been devoted to the complexity of understanding the wider contexts and the full range of diverse factors which shaped the relationships which constitute networks. The volume will make a significant contribution to understanding the movement and transmission of knowledge (or in some cases their absence), and to debates about how best to expand the utility of network concepts and approaches. This volume originated from an interdisciplinary Leverhulme Research Programme, 'Tracing Networks: craft traditions in the ancient Mediterranean and beyond'. This volume consists of a coherent selection of the archaeological papers which focus specifically on the interrogation of network concepts for understanding and interpreting the ancient past. AUTHOR: Lin Foxhall is Rathbone Professor of Ancient History and Classical Archaeology. Previously she was Professor of Greek Archaeology and History at the University of Leicester, and Head of the School of Archaeology and Ancient History. She has held posts at St Hilda's College, Oxford and University College London, and visiting professorships in Germany, Denmark and the USA. She studied at Bryn Mawr College, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Liverpool, where she obtained her doctorate. She is an active field archaeologist and researcher currently working in Southern Calabria, Italy. Interrogates the potential of network concepts for understanding the movement of ideas over time and space. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Codice articolo 9781789256277

Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: Interrogating Networks (Paperback)
• Editore: Oxbow Books, Oxford
• Data di pubblicazione: 2021
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 1789256275
• ISBN 13: 9781789256277
• Rilegatura: Paperback
• Condizione: new

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

Network theory and methodologies have become central to exploring and explaining social, economic, and political relationships and connections in past societies. However, in archaeology, the deployment of networks has sometimes been more descriptive than analytical. Methodologies have often depended upon underlying assumptions which inevitably simplify relationships that were complex and multi-faceted. However, the fragmentary, heterogenous, and usually proxy data we possess are not always amenable to reconstructing that complexity.

In ancient societies, we must infer the movement of knowledge about ‘how to make things’ largely from objects themselves. This is because we usually lack direct evidence of the human relationships that entwined people with objects and their makers, and hence have only imperfect understanding of the full range of diverse factors that shaped the relationships that constituted these networks.

The chapters in this volume aim to interrogate the interpretative potential of network concepts for understanding the movement over time and space of ideas about making, using and moving things through a range of archaeological case studies, which reveal both functional and dysfunctional relationships. The purpose is to consider how more broadly contextualized and multi-faceted studies can both enhance, and be enhanced by, network and related approaches. The volume contributes to the search for greater understanding of the movement and transmission of knowledge (or in some cases their absence), and to debates about how best to expand the utility of network concepts and approaches.