Archaeological Typology and Practical Reality A Dialectical Approach to Artifact Classification and Sorting
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- The archaeologist's preface
- The philosopher's preface
- PART I Introductory
- PART II The nature of types and typologies
- PART III Typology in action: the Medieval Nubian Pottery Typology
- PART IV Pragmatics of archaeological typology
- PART V Classification, explanation, and theory
- Appendices
- References
- Index
PART V - Classification, explanation, and theory
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 November 2009
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- The archaeologist's preface
- The philosopher's preface
- PART I Introductory
- PART II The nature of types and typologies
- PART III Typology in action: the Medieval Nubian Pottery Typology
- PART IV Pragmatics of archaeological typology
- PART V Classification, explanation, and theory
- Appendices
- References
- Index
Summary
The danger of premature closure of a conceptual structure is illustrated again and again in the history of science. Absolutely fixed concepts are always premature. Precision is not an end in itself but a means for the construction of mathematical models and the application of computer technology. Tolerance of ambiguity is as much a mark of scientific maturity as of emotional maturity.
Abraham Kaplan (1984: 31)- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Archaeological Typology and Practical RealityA Dialectical Approach to Artifact Classification and Sorting, pp. 263 - 264Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1991