History and Archaeological Theory: Walter Taylor Revisited

Abstract

After nearly four decades, Taylor's discussion of the relation between history and anthropology remain remarkably fresh and are used throughout this presentation. History and anthropology have similar concerns for understanding the human experience and process; the primary concern of anthropology, however, is culture. By examining the semantic domain of both fields, their relation is clarified. The primary data base of historiography, ethnography, and archaeology consists of documents, ethnography, and material remains, respectively. Historiography, ethnography, and archaeology are methods, and no more. Theoretical considerations reside at the higher level of ethnology-the comparative study of culture.