Abstract
Between 1850 and 1950 Americanist archaeology evolved from an inchoate blend of antiquarianism, literature, and field digging undertaken by untrained but enthusiastic amateurs into an increasingly disciplined and institutionalized field of inquiry. While personal speculation and style became less pronounced, institutional (university/museum) support provided financial grounds for long-term research and teaching agendas. At the same time, while institutionalized archaeology certainly did not eliminate strong personality differences and professional disagreements, it did provide channels within which to confront and resolve them. The overlapping generations of Ephraim Squier, Alfred Maudslay, and Byron Cummings clearly demonstrate this trajectory of professionalization.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 122-135 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Reviews in Anthropology |
Volume | 37 |
Issue number | 2-3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 1 2008 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Americanist archaeology
- Discipline
- Institutionalization
- Professionalization
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cultural Studies
- Anthropology