What about ‘one more turn after the social’ in archaeological reasoning? Taking things seriously

Abstract

This paper discusses the principle of symmetry for archaeology in light of the discipline's theoretical legacy. At the core, this principle involves a reconfiguration of how the relationship between humans and things is characterized. Advocating the recognition of mixtures of what are routinely parsed into categories of nature and society, a symmetrical archaeology centres itself upon the equitable study of the discipline's defining ingredients. It is argued that such symmetry of humans and things undercuts many pesky dualisms exhibited throughout the recent history of archaeological theory and practice. The article summarizes the salient formulations of this relationship in archaeological thinking and suggests that a symmetrical focus on ontological mixtures removes the reliance upon multiplying epistemological settlements that fragment the discipline. An example is given of how heritage might be rethought.

Keywords:

• Archaeological reasoning
• disciplinary history
• heritage
• science studies
• symmetry
• things

Acknowledgements

An earlier manifestation of this paper was presented at the Society for American Archaeology (SAA) in Puerto Rico. My gratitude goes to the participants of these ‘symmetrical sessions’ and to Don Ihde, Bjørnar Olsen, Chris Witmore and Alison Wylie for insightful discussions. All disclaimers apply.