Ethnographic collections and archaeological research

Abstract

Archaeologists increasingly turn to collections labelled ‘ethnography’, ‘ethnology’, or ‘anthropology’ depending on the institution to expand the scope of their research. The reasons for this are varied, from the presence of materials or objects that are unlikely to be discovered on archaeological sites because of rarity or taphonomic conditions, to community-driven interests in objects beyond the typical bounds of what is classified as ‘archaeology’. The pace of this research has increased in recent decades. Archaeologists have emphasized the active, dynamic nature of collections, often using interpretive frameworks derived from actor–network theory or assemblage theory. Looking ahead to the future, archaeologists working with these types of collections will in many cases need to confront the colonial legacies of ethnographic collections by working closely with source communities and becoming involved in different forms of repatriation or restitution activities.