Behavioral Cosmology and Fictive Kin: James M. Skibo (The Behavioral Golden Child)

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Archaeological Method and Theory: Papers in Honor of James M. Skibo, Part I" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

In the 1970s, the "founding fathers" of Behavioral Archaeology (BA), Schiffer, Rathje, and Reid expanded the bounds of traditional archaeology to fully integrate ethnoarchaeology, experimental archaeology, and modern material culture studies. Building on the foundations of processual archaeology, BA emphasized rigorous testing of mundane and not-so-mundane aspects of technology and human behaviors. In the quest for stronger inference, experimental archaeology and ethnoarchaeology became key tools in the Behavioral toolkit. Cultivating a familial intellectual environment full of parental favorites, sibling rivalries, and lifelong bonds, the "founding fathers" shaped an intellectual network of behavioral archaeologists that spanned generations. In this (fictive) kinship network, James M. Skibo is central. His methodological work in experimental and ethnoarchaeology has influenced the work of all behavioral archaeologists and many others, as has his theoretical work on technologies. Among his "kin," Jim has been the "golden child," jocular older brother, and goofy uncle. This paper reflects on these origins, as well as Skibo’s work, and his lasting influence.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Archaeological Method and Theory: Papers in Honor of James M. Skibo, Part I   •
• Society for American Archaeology 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM (2019)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 24881