The Archaeology of Colonial Encounters

Colonialism and its legacies have emerged as one of the most important research topics in anthropology. In this volume, ten archaeologists analyse the assumptions that have constrained previous studies of colonialism and demonstrate that colonization was common in early Old and New World state societies. Colonialism and its legacies have emerged as one of the most important research topics in anthropology. Indeed, we now understand that colonialism gave rise to and shaped the discipline. However, the understanding of colonization in anthropology, history, and other fields derives largely from studies of European expansion. In this volume, ten archaeologists analyze the assumptions that have constrained previous studies of colonialism and demonstrate that colonization was common in early Old and New World state societies--an important strategy by which people gained access to critical resources.