Contemporary archaeology
Laura McAtackney
Abstract
Contemporary archaeology can be understood from a number of perspectives including those who consider all archaeology contemporary in terms of the production of knowledge in comparison to those who explicitly conduct their research on the materiality of contemporary society. Amongst the archaeologists currently active in the sub-discipline there is a diversity of foci, some of which follow trends established by historical archaeology – such as an interest in the everyday and mundane – and others that are responding to emerging contemporary issues such as the experiences of undocumented refugees. A further distinction can be made between those who are focused on retrieving human experiences and those who wish to move beyond the centrality of humans and instead conduct research that is object orientated. The many areas of interest, methodologies and theoretical frameworks that are currently emerging reveal the diversity and vibrant nature of contemporary archaeology, especially as we grapple with how to conduct research in the Anthropocene. Indeed, one could argue that the only place the sub-discipline is not established is with tenured employment in the academy.