1) Introduction: sense of archaeological theory and interpretation of meaning. The structure and hierarchy of theoretical approaches. Functionalist interpretation, particularism and neo-positivist, "antiteoretický" mainsteram contemporary archeology 2) The impact of scientific methodology (especially the theory of systems, geographic models and quantitative methods) on the theory of 60th-70th years of the 20th century. Middle-range theory (difference in approach R. Merton L. Binford). Awards importance of formation and transformation processes in the works of M. B. Schiffer and E. Neustupného. 3) The influence of postmodern philosophy and anthropology archeology 80th to 90th years. 4) Plurality of opinions contemporary archaeological theory: analysis of world systems, network analysis, dynamic modeling, complex adaptive systems, chaos theory, theory artifact etc. The differences between the theories of "top-down" (normative) and "bottom-up" (eg. Theory organic growth, reception and agency theories) 5) Social Archaeology: concepts, topics and solutions. Society and identity, emulation models, research and consumption of consumerism, artifactual memory 6) Geographic Perspective: territory, political landscape, center and periphery, models of territoriality, definitions of political landscapes and models of the relationship between territorial-political units in the past. 7) The interpretation of architecture and the built environment: the concept of building Environment (Built Environment) and its context, urban morphology, monumentality and architectural theory of communication. Concepts and methods of spatial syntax: analysis of access and visibility, reflection analysis. Analysis of perception, agent-based 'models etc. 8) Economic aspects - opportunities archaeological interpretation of the production, distribution and exchange. Environmental and energy models (theories and so-called resistance. Socio-ecological systems), the political context (analysis of world systems) 9) Cognitive aspects, phenomenology and individual. Symbol, ritual, tradition. Spatiality and temporality in the past.
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Development of archeology in the 20th century amassed a huge amount of often contradictory interpretive approaches to archaeological data. The course is loosely based on lectures evolution of archaeological thought and archaeological field project and try to imagine the breadth and variety of viable theoretical approaches in the archeology of the 20th and 21st centuries. The course is a systematic outline of the history of archaeological theory, rather than confrontation of individual interpretive models in formulating hypotheses and solve specific issues arising from archaeological data. For this theme, the emphasis laid lectures on less general, more heterogeneous and open access to the so-called. Middle range theory or "empirical theory" that do not lose a close relationship with the data and can better motivate students to independent interest in interpreting the past. The lecture emphasizes thorough explanation of important concepts and terms archaeological theory and be documented sequence of case studies showing the possibilities of individual interpretive approaches and differences between them. Follow-up workshops will be filled with discussions with students about the issues discussed, the students will prepare entry papers and discussion papers.
Graduates acquire key theoretical concepts of archeology 20th and 21st centuries, understand their meaning, their consistency with data analysis and the creation of archaeological hypotheses.
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