From Stonehenge to Mycenae

A paradigm shift in archaeology challenges the notion that material remains represent the people or institutions behind them, instead advocating for understanding how local, materially distinct worlds enabled monumental projects like Stonehenge and Mycenae. The radiocarbon revolution debunked the idea of architectural influence between these sites, while recent 'big data' and genetic studies have reinforced a top-down approach to solving 'big problems.' This book argues for bottom-up solutions, emphasizing how people connected through production, use, and movement of objects during their lifetimes. It offers a fresh perspective on how life was sustained in these ancient societies by examining their material practices and local contexts.

Barrett, J. C., Carman, J., Cummings, V., Carman, J., Insoll, T., Breen, C., Routledge, B., Moreland, J., O’Keeffe, T., Wells, P. S., Randsborg, K., Rhodes, D. T., Decker, M. J., Finlayson, B., Schofield, J., Skeates, R., Creighton, O. H., Walmsley, A., Gould, P. G., et al. (2019). From Stonehenge to Mycenae. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781474291927