Archaeology Under Fire Nationalism Politics And Heritage In The Eastern Mediterranean And Middle East Lynn Meskell Edt by Lynn Meskell (edt) 9780415196550, 0415196558 instant download after payment.

The Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean are some of the most politically charged regions in which archaeology is implicated. Historically, they played a formative role in the birth of archaeology as a discipline. Archaeology Under Fire addresses archaeology's role in current political issues, including the ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, the division of Cyprus, and the continued destruction of Beirut. The contributors consider the positive role of the past as a means of reconciliation, whether it be in Turkey, Israel, and the Gulf. They advocate a responsible global archaeology, and an awareness of contemporary issues can only enhance this aim.

Archaeology Under Fire is a ground-breaking collection which addresses the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean as one of the most politically-charged regions in which archaeology is implicated. Historically, this area played a formative role in the emergence of archaeology as a discipline. However, until now, study of the sociopolitical implications of archaeology has focused on Western Europe rather than the region explored here, where the materiality and practice of archaeology is inextricably linked to the political and cultural realities faced by their respective peoples.

Leading academics present chapters on Cyprus, Greece, the former Yugoslavia, of archaeology in current political issues, from ethnic cleansing in the Balkans to the division of Cyprus. Globalism, postcolonialism and the positive role of the past as a means of reconciliation are some of the themes explored in this volume. The contributors interweave theory and practice and demonstrate how this area of the world can provide a relevant model for understanding archaeological praxis.

Lynn Meskell is Research Fellow at New College, Oxford. She has undertaken fieldwork in Egypt, Cyprus and Greece. Her research interests include Egyptian and Mediterranean archaeologies, the application of feminist theory and sociopolitics to archaeology.