Theorizing Archaeological Museum Studies

This book

attempts to reconnect archaeological practice, the theoretical richness of archaeology, and museum studies. The book therefore embraces both the practical aspects of archaeology and empirical studies in museums in order to rethink what happens when an artefact changes into an exhibit.

is positioned at the intersection of both history and archaeological theory, and of the history of art and museum studies.

explores the relationship between museums and their dominant paradigms, on the one hand, and new approaches and theories in archaeology, on the other.

illustrates the co-dependencies, relations and tensions that characterize the relationship between academia and museums.

demonstrates how in becoming an exhibit, artefacts have – and continue to – become reflections of the discipline’s prevailing paradigms while manifesting the dominant aims and methods of knowledge production pertaining at a given time and place, as well as the desired social interpretations and modes of presenting the past.

will be important reading for academics and students (archaeology, heritage studies, museums studies) as well as practitioners (museum employees, heritage practitioners). The book is also intended for scholars from across the humanities interested in museum studies, heritage studies, curatorial studies, cultural studies, cultural geography, material culture, history of archaeology, archaeological theory, and the anthropology of things.