Strengthen the actual connection between archeology and society
November 15, 2023 09:57 Source: "China Social Sciences", November 15, 2023, Issue 2773 Author: Reporter Zhao Qi

In recent years,More and more foreign archaeologists have conducted research aimed at solving contemporary problems。Although a number of exciting results have been launched in the academic community,But so far,They seem to have not yet had important impacts in the actual public policy discussion。For example,Although archaeologists conducted a rich research on the adaptation of climate change around humans,However。In view of the extensive compilation of archeological records is the extensive compilation of human experience,Archaeological research results should have an impact on the discussion of contemporary problems,So,The practical significance of improving archeological research has become a topic that people are concerned。For this,The reporter recently interviewed Scott G. Outman, Director of the Institute of Archaeological Collaborative Comprehensive Center of the University of Corolad, the University of Colorado,。

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Archeological research has gone through a long development process,It has formed a more mature paradigm and method。Now,Archeological research also gradually gets out of the ivory tower,Go to the people's side。From the development of cultural tourism venues to providing materials for museum exhibitions,Many aspects of archeological research have interacted with society,But how archeological research can play a more active role in major issues facing humans and have a deeper impact,It is worth thinking about in -depth thinking。Ultraman told reporters,The concept of "Practical Relevance" bet365 Play online games is often used to explain the relationship between academic research and social problems。"Actual Association" refers to,Predicted knowledge about specific social phenomena can help people make a wise decision on the current problems。Why do human behavior need prediction,Is the prediction worth it? Ultraman explained this,Prediction to predict the behavior of individuals and groups is meaningful,For example,Today's population ratio has predictive value for future economic development; insurance companies have always used an actuaries to achieve reasonable expenditure and adjust premiums; political scientists predict the results of the election according to the population data model and socioeconomic characteristics; humans; human beings; Daily activities often follow the predictable mode,If a smartphone can provide users with the best choice solution according to the daily activities of the user; in terms of predicting sports events,Simple prediction models are often better than experts' subjective judgment。At the same time,People have to recognize,Forecast is usually beneficial。For example,Learn how many different ages in the future,It is essential to maintain social security; reasonable predicting travel time can help people make better planning;。In short,Many aspects of human behavior are predictable,Scholars should appropriately use behavior predicting knowledge to solve practical problems existing in society。

Ultraman said,Compared to other disciplines,Let archaeologists use archeological knowledge to predict that society may be more difficult,Because ancient society and modern society have considerable differences in many aspects。For example,Small scale of ancient society、Traffic and information Bet365 lotto review technology is underdeveloped,There is a social and political system different from modern society,and run under different cultural concepts。These factors have hindered a close relationship between archeology and social reality to a certain extent,But there is no contact between the two,From the perspective of social theory,Archaeologists have been actively active with cultural anthropology in recent decades、Sociology、Scholars in disciplines such as geography,Proposal on the theory of ontology for social and cultural phenomena,In many cases,This kind of theory is proposed in the contemporary society,Then it is applied by archeologists to inspect the past society。So,A established traditional point of view appeared,It is believed that the basic attributes and relationships of human society life are suitable for all society。Although this research paradigm produces a lot of insights,But from the perspective of "actual connection",It seems to be limited。Because people are usually unlikely to verify and evaluate this method,In most cases,Its role is to help people better understand archeological evidence。

Ultraman thinks,Archaeological research wants to have greater influence and social practicality,Need to develop and deepen some of the current theories and research methods。Because,Some traditional archeological explanation methods are unlikely to meet the needs of making research with strong "actual associations"。

  Existing research methods need to be deepened and developed

Archaeologists are good at rebuilding history,From geographical information system (GIS) to accelerator mass spectrum test years (ams dating) and isotope、Micro morphology、Plant rock、Ancient DNA、Laser radar、Drone photography bet365 best casino games measurement、Language Ancient Biology, etc.,These archeological methods continue to improve the ability of scholars to reconstruct the human behavior and environment in history,Expansion of these methods,The historical narrative given by archaeologists becomes more and more detailed、Accurate and attractive attention。Ultraman said,The importance of these narratives is reflected in its enrichment of people's imagination of human creation society、clarify the diversity of contemporary world cultural heritage,and to promote social justice and other aspects through historical facts。Although these achievements are valuable,But whether the historical narrative contributed by archaeologists can bring predictive knowledge,to help people make wise practical decisions,For example, how to define the land use area、Re -assign wealth、Stimulate economic growth、Reduce environmental impact、Improve public health, etc.,Can people today take appropriate action based on historical narrative,The answer may be negative。Because,Archeological research gradually becomes detailed,Make scholars' ability to extract practical knowledge from it is decreasing。

Ultraman made a detailed explanation from two aspects。One,The conclusion obtained by archeological research is too general。"Tradingal Synthesis" method often uses "traditional synthesis" in archeological research,That is, a series of conclusions of a series of case studies are qualitatively compared。This research method can find a lot of valuable information,but,Many attributes of human society have the nature of interrelated,It is difficult to associate with specific issues based on this method。For example,"UNDERSTANDING EARLY CIVILIZATION)Bet365 lotto review ,Although early civilization showed cultural differences,But its economy、Social and political organizations have strong regularity,Unable to explain it with historical associations or common ancestors。So,This book thinks,The help behind the rise of civilization is more political and economic factors,instead of ecological or cultural factors in the strict sense。Although this view is very deep,But the conclusion is too general,Therefore。Its two,Cross -cultural analysis methods are often used in archaeological research,Extract meaningful or meaningless information from the national and archeological literature,These studies mostly focus on establishing statistical relationships between variables,It is not much related to the practicality of the society。For example,A major project in the field of archeology recently SESHAT,The aimed to establish a global archeological and historical database,Used to test the hypothesis of the potential mutation structure of human social organizations on the political level。Researchers collected variable data from 414 politics from 9600 BC to 1900 BC,and summarize these variables into 9 "complexity features": government population、Political territory、Capital population、Level System、"Text"、Information System、Infrastructure、Currency and Government。Analysis of the main component of these features,These characteristics are highly related,All elements tend to evolve together。This research expands the understanding of the general process of human society,But this analysis is based on many meaningful or meaningless information,Instead of determining how any specific attribute changes affect other attributes。So,In terms of studying the Bet365 app download complexity of contemporary society,Because the unit of analysis is government,Some and society、Urban or family -related problems cannot be solved,As a result, such studies are often applicable to abstract levels。

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Discussion on the actual correlation of archeological research has always existed,As early as the 1960s and 1970s, scholars have been proposed,To deepen the development of a practical common method on the basis of previous research paradigms and methods。Ultraman proposed,First,Archaeological research wants to become more practical,Can't just attract the attention of philosophers,Instead, it is necessary to attract the attention of the whole society in a larger range,It is possible to produce more practical conclusions。Second,Explanation of archeological content,Can't only aim at a specific historical event,To tap the laws behind this specific historical event and use examples to explain it。Last,To integrate the interpretation of human behavior with the interpretation of archeological records,Middle-Range theory can be used,Examination and verification of archeological records through scientific methods,Finally explained social and cultural evolution。

Ultraman thinks,Modern explanation of archeological records,It is the instrumental goal of archeological research。Only when people use this knowledge to study the current social dynamics,Archaeological research can break through the scope of their own research,Get higher correlation on the social level。He said,The ultimate purpose of archeological research is to discover the law of human social behavior,and these rules have nothing to do with context,Applicable to the past and applicable to the present。Feasible Bet365 lotto review research methods are: Development Theory -Quotation of predictions — test the results obtained based on archeological records。regard archeology as a field of social science research,Need archaeologists transform material traces into a general understanding of human behavior,This can be suitable for studying the dynamic social development process。Archaeologists must continue to establish the ability to study human society dynamics,and apply it to exploring social phenomena。other,Archaeologists need to cooperate with other social scientists,Development Theory、Model,and explore the laws of changes in human behavior under specific conditions from archeological records。

Editor in charge: Zhang Jing
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