Archaeology and the Production of Capital in the 21st Century

Summary

Over the last two decades, archaeologists have increasingly debated whether and how archaeology can be used to promote public welfare and foster progressive social change. Some scholars have emphasized the methodological importance of praxis. Others have emphasized the pragmatic need for public intellectuals. And, still others have emphasized the ethical necessity of community engagement. In this paper, I maintain that archaeology can and should be an ally in the effort to understand, and perhaps even mitigate, one of the most pressing contemporary concerns – social inequality. Pierre Bourdieu has suggested that inequality derives, at least in part, from the unequal distribution of capital, be it economic, cultural, or social. In this paper, I suggest that Bourdieu’s framework offers a useful model for archaeologists, and that we can attempt to rectify social inequality – in a small way – by producing forms of capital that benefit the communities for which we work. By doing so, I aim to propose a form of engaged, public archaeology useful to those working in various contexts around the world.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• Combating Inequality: Archaeology and the Production of Capital in the 21st Century

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