New Perspectives on Household Archaeology

The foundational tenets of household archaeology were established more than three decades ago by anthropological archaeologists seeking multiscalar approaches to the archaeological record. The study of the household as the basic unit of society and as a window to larger social, economic, and political change reflected in the everyday actions of individual people has since become integral to archaeological practice. However, the subfield today remains as diverse in theoretical underpinnings as it is in practical applications.

This volume—proceedings of a three-day conference held at the University of Utah—revisits conceptualizations of the household in both past and present societies, evaluates the current place of household archaeology within the wider field of anthropological and archaeological research, and presents the newest technical advances implementing a household archaeological framework. New Perspectives on Household Archaeology exhibits the breadth and depth of studies in household archaeology currently being undertaken, including studies on household time cycles in Early Bronze Age Cyprus, the socio-technical aspects of barley cultivation in Neolithic Jordan, and urban neighborhoods in the early Indus Valley tradition. More than simply reflecting the “state of the field,” this volume highlights the significant contributions Near Eastern archaeologists and their eastern Mediterranean colleagues are making to advance the study of ancient households and to apply this information to larger questions of sociocultural importance.