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THE PLACE OF CHRONOLOGICAL STUDIES IN ARCHAEOLOGY A VIEW FROM THE OLD WORLD *
Author(s) -
KRISTIANSEN KRISTIAN
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
oxford journal of archaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1468-0092
pISSN - 0262-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-0092.1985.tb00247.x
Subject(s) - seriation (archaeology) , typology , period (music) , archaeology , history , bronze age , art , aesthetics
Summary This article deals with the univeral problem of chronological versus social change and discusses the methodological foundations and the scientific functions of chronological studies, exemplified by the Nordic Bronze Age, a classic example of the development of a chronological system. First the universal validity of the premises of typology and seriation are questioned. Secondly, there is a discussion of the chronological implications of the many possible relationships between the period of production, the period of use and the period of deposition of artefacts. Thirdly the foundations of chronological change is analysed and finally the place of chronological studies in the research process is discussed.