Method and theory of V. Gordon Childe
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Date
1979Author
McNairn, Barbara
Metadata
Abstract
This thesis examines the work of V. Gordon Childe
(1892-1957). one of the most outstanding figures in the
development of archaeology. Childe was unique among his
contemporaries not only for his exceptional achievement in
synthesising European and Oriental prehistory on a hitherto
unprecedented scale, but also for the depth of his methodo¬
logical, theoretical and ultimately philosophical enquiry
into archaeological procedure. Although Childe himself
especially valued his contribution to archaeology as the
originator of new interpretative concepts and methods of
explanation, his explicitly theoretical work is not widely
known today and indeed was largely ignored by his contem¬
poraries. Here an attempt is made to redress the balance,
not by depreciating Childe's role as a synthesiser, nor by
overstating his explicit concern with theory, but rather by
viewing both these aspects of his work as integral parts of an overall enquiry into prehistory. The thesis thus begins with an outline of the develop¬
ment of Childe's synthesis of European and Oriental prehistory
in relationship to the development of his theoretical frame¬
work. This is followed by a more detailed analysis of the
theoretical content of the synthesis itself and by a closer
examination of his work on archaeological classification,
historical theory and philosophy of knowledge. In tracing
Childe's intellectual genesis and development from his entry iiinto
archaeology in the early twenties to his tragic death
in 1957, one follows a remarkable Journey through philolo¬
gical theory, Oriental diffusionism, functionalism,
Darwinism and Marxism. The picture which emerges is one
of an archaeologist grappling with complex and often contra¬
dictory theoretical systems, in an attempt not only to
perceive the patterns in prehistory, but to understand the
historical process itself.