Archaeology as Alt-Knowledge in Southeastern Europe: Inventing the Ancestors
Archaeology as Alt-Knowledge in Southeastern Europe: Inventing the Ancestors
Author(s): Dimitris PlantzosSubject(s): History, Archaeology
Published by: Centre for Advanced Study Sofia (CAS)
Keywords: archaeopolitics; crypto-colonialism; nationalism; Balkan archaeology; public history
Summary/Abstract: In Southeastern Europe, the discipline of archaeology transcends its conventional role as a scientific endeavour and assumes a distinct position as a purveyor of alternative knowledge. This paper delves into the intricate interplay between archaeology and the construction of ancestral narratives in the region, shedding light on the process of inventing and perpetuating cultural identities through archaeological interpretations. Drawing upon a diverse array of archaeological case studies spanning the Balkans, this study examines how archaeological findings are appropriated and manipulated to serve ideological agendas, often diverging from mainstream scholarly consensus. The paper argues that in Southeastern Europe, archaeology operates as a potent tool for legitimizing claims to territorial ownership and cultural supremacy, fostering narratives of continuity and primordiality that resonate deeply within the collective consciousness. By selectively emphasizing certain aspects of the past while neglecting others, archaeological discourses contribute to the construction of mythicized origin stories that bolster nationalist sentiments and perpetuate historical grievances.
Journal: CAS Sofia Working Paper Series
- Issue Year: 2024
- Issue No: 14/5
- Page Range: 1-24
- Page Count: 24
- Language: English