Investigating Consumption

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The potential of material remains to relay information about the past - including how they were used and why - lies at the heart of archaeological inquiry. Nevertheless, theoretically-informed consumption-oriented approaches are relatively new in the field of archaeology. The papers within this volume demonstrate the benefits of applying a consumption-focussed lens to gain new insight into past social practices.

The chapters explore diverse topics and encompass a range of time periods and materials, with particular strengths in Roman archaeology, ceramic remains, and the relationships between material culture and domestic space. The papers, including an introduction to consumption theory and a series of case studies, address a range of practical challenges through a range of up-to-date research methodologies.

This volume is inspired by the internationally-recognised pioneering work of Penelope (Pim) Allison, whose innovative, consumption-focussed work on sites ranging from Roman Pompeii to the nineteenth century Australian outback, have refined and redefined our understandings of domestic life, gender, and space in the past. It is offered as a celebration, on the occasion of her retirement, of her enduring legacy in the study of the archaeology of consumption.