Archaeological (Digital) Maps as Performances: Towards Alternative Mappings

Abstract

In this article, a case is made to reconceptualise archaeological cartography from a performative perspective. Through such a discussion the aim is not only to render archaeology an active part in related multidisciplinary discussions within the field of critical mapping but also to open up possibilities for alternative mapping practices in the discipline. While pursuing this reconceptualisation, I first discuss how to rethink maps as performances. Subsequently, I present understanding archaeological maps as performances as a way to create alternatives to representational modes of thinking. Finally, I stress the timeliness of reconceptualising maps as performances in digital age.

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the M4HUMAN Programme of the Gerda Henkel Foundation during a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Oxford, Sagalassos Archaeological Research Project at the KU Leuven and the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy at the University of Ghent. A preliminary version of the ideas presented here was featured in the ‘Rethinking the Archaeological Map’ session at the annual Theoretical Archaeology Group (TAG) Conference at Bradford (UK) in December 2015. I would like to thank attendants of the session, and Frank Carpentier, Laura Wenk Floyd, Mark Gillings, Gary Lock and Jeroen Poblome for their support and feedback. Denis Byrne and Daniel Lee kindly allowed use of images from their projects. I am also grateful for the constructive comments of the two anonymous reviewers which helped improve the paper. Any mistakes are my responsibility alone.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Gerda Henkel Foundation [M4HUMAN Programme].