An idea of the philosophy of archaeology can best be gained by showing what it is, what the issues are, who is working in the field, and how they proceed. Reading Lester Embree's Metaarchaeology provides the best possible introduction to the field, since in it several leading archaeologists show how accessible and interesting the current archeological literature is, and currently active philosophers of archaeology reveal something of the current state of discussion on the subject. Bibliographies have also been developed of the philosophy of archaeology as well as of selected parts of the component that can be called metaarchaeology. Finally, an historical introduction has been included to show the variety of metascientific as well as orientational standpoints that philosophers of archaeology have had recourse to for over two decades, followed by speculation about the future of the discipline within the philosophy of science.

Inhalt

Introductory Essay.- Introductory Essay: The Future and Past of Metaarchaeology.- I: Archaeology.- What is the Archaeology of Chiefdoms about?.- Is a Scientific Archaeology Possible?.- Interpreting the Collapse of Classic Maya Civilization: A Case Study of Changing Archaeological Perspectives.- Explanation in Archaeology: Reactions and Rebuttals.- II: Philosophy of Archaeology.- Universalization in Archaeological Explanation.- Phenomenology of a Change in Archaeological Observation.- Gender and Archaeological Knowledge.- Philosophical Models for Postprocessual Archaeology.- Explanation in Archaeology: An Update.- The Place of Archaeology in Science.- On "Heavily Decomposing Red Herrings": Scientific Method in Archaeology and the Ladening of Evidence with Theory.- Selected Bibliography of Archaeological Metaarchaeology.- Bibliography of Philosophical Metaarchaeology.- Index of Names.- Index of Topics.