Theoretical archaeology: a reactionary view

Abstract

Hodder contrasts schools of functionalist and normative archaeology through examination of each concept of structure. First, the New Archaeology's structure is synonymous with the system. In this functionalist view, the function of culture is ecological adaptation, the structure is materially visible, and historical context is removed. In contrast, the structure of a normative archaeology is separate from the social system. Following Levi-Strauss, the structure consists of ideas and norms that shape culture, is deeply rooted in history, and is not directly observable. As part of a functionalist approach, ethnographic analogy ignores historical context to produce cross-cultural predictive laws applicable only to mechanical constraints in given ecological relationships. But this is only a fraction of archaeology's subject of study. Culture is both an extrosomatic means of adaptation and meaningfully constructed structure.