Ethnographies and Archaeologies: Iterations of the Past

In choosing the title for this anthology, Mortensen (anthropology, U. of Toronto, Canada) and Hollowell (a visiting scholar at DePauw U.) purposely echoed the title of William Roseberry's Anthropologies and Histories; foremost signaling the intention to explore insights from bringing together separate-yet-related disciplines, but also following the earlier volume's example in attending to larger contexts and structures, challenging dominant hegemonies, and recognizing that--just as there are no people without history--there are no people without archaeology. They organize the 11 contributions according to three related themes: how official rendering of heritage and archaeology articulate with local discourses that inscribe alternative meanings of landscapes, sites, and ruins; the foundations of control over archaeology and the basis of authority in archeological practices or claims; and the variety of standpoints available for valuing the past and the manifold practices and discourse that inform such standpoints. Annotation 穢2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)