Archaeology and its Discontents

<p><em>Archaeology and its Discontents</em> examines the state of archaeology today and its development throughout the twentieth century making a powerful case for new approaches.</p><p>Surveying the themes of twentieth-century archaeological theory Barrett looks at their successes limitations and failures. Seeing more failures and limitations than successes he argues that archaeology has over-focused on explaining the human construction of material variability and should instead be more concerned with understanding how human diversity has been constructed. Archaeology matters he argues precisely because of the insights it can offer into the development of human diversity. The analysis and argument are illustrated throughout by reference to the development of the European Neolithic.</p><p>Arguing both for new approaches and for the importance of archaeology as a discipline <i>Archaeology and its Discontents </i>is for archaeologists at all levels from student to professor and trainee to experienced practitioner.</p>