Archaeology Glossary Project

Ethnoarchaeology


The study of cultural material (such as pots, weapons, and tools), the understanding of how and why these materials were used, and interpretations on what they were used for. Often, ethnoarchaeologists study living people and their use of materials to enhance their understanding of past-day uses of similar materials.
-ethnoarchaeology completely developed only over the past 20-25 years
-Lewis Binford: an ethnoarchaeologist who devoted a lot of time and research to the study of a hunter-gatherer group of Alaska, the Nunamiut Eskimo.

For further information:
ArchNet: Ethnoarchaeology and Ethnohistory
Archaeology Renfrew and Bahn pg. 178


Go to Archaeology Glossary Project Terms

Composed by Patrick Findlay, Sara Jones, Sally McIver, Joseph Billeaud, and Ted Weiman.
Last updated 25 February 1997