In Defense of Things

This important work of archaeological theory challenges us to reconsider our ideas about the nature of things, past and present, arguing that objects themselves possess a dynamic presence that we must take into account if we are to understand the world we and they inhabit.

In much recent thinking, social and cultural realms are thought of as existing prior to—or detached from—things, materiality, and landscape. It is often assumed, for example, that things are entirely 'constructed' by social or cultural perceptions and have no existence in and of themselves. Bjornar Olsen takes a different position. Drawing on a range of theories, especially phenomenology and actor-network-theory, Olsen claims that human life is fully mixed up with things and that humanity and human history emerge from such relationships. Things, moreover, possess unique qualities that are inherent in our cohabitation with them—qualities that help to facilitate existential security and memory of the past. This important work of archaeological theory challenges us to reconsider our ideas about the nature of things, past and present, demonstrating that objects themselves possess a dynamic presence that we must take into account if we are to understand the world we and they inhabit.

Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. Brothers in Arms? Archaeology and Material Culture Studies
Chapter 3. Material Culture as Text: Scenes from a Troubled Engagement
Chapter 4. The Phenomenology of Things
Chapter 5. Tacit Matter: The Silencing of Things
Chapter 6. Temporality and Memory: How Things Remember
Chapter 7. Living with Things - Matter in Place
Chapter 8. In Defense of Things
Chapter 9 Bibliography