Archaeology and Ancient History: Breaking Down the Boundaries

Some classicists still deal with the ancient world as if archaeological evidence is of little relevance to their work. This can mean that territories or subjects for which there is little textual evidence can be marginalised or not studied at all. Similarly, many historical archaeologists, dissatisfied with their ancillary role, assert that material evidence for the ancient world can and should be studied independently. This collection of pieces from an international range of contributors explores in detail the separation of the human past into history, archaeology and their related sub-disciplines. Each piece challenges the validity of this separation and asks how we can move to a more holistic approach. While the focus is on the ancient world, particularly Greece and Rome, the lessons that emerge are significant for the study of any time and place.