Definition: Ethnoarchaeology is the use of ethnologic (anthropological) data from living groups as an analogy for understanding people of the past. The term was first used by Americanist Jesse Fewkes about 1900, but the early forms of ethnoarchaeology were rough-and-ready, freely applying modern cultural data to the past. In recent decades, archaeologists such as Patti Jo Watson, Lewis Binford, Susan Kent, Nicholas David and Richard Gould (to mention only a very few) have taken a more dyspeptic view of the direct application of anthropological data, still using ethnographic data, but arguing for caution.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
