Lewis Binford

Lewis Roberts Binford, Ph.D. (born 21 November 1930^[1] in Norfolk, Virginia), is an American archaeologist, known as the leader of the "New Archaeology" movement of the 1950s/60s. He is University Distinguished Professor emeritus at Southern Methodist University.

Lewis Binford is predominantly known for his contributions to archaeological theory and his promotion of ethno-archaeological research. As a leading advocate of the "New Archaeology" movement of the 1960's, he proposed a number of ideas that matured into processualism. He and others argued that there should be emphasis on the application of scientific methodologies as well as the hypothetico-deductive method to archaeology. He places a strong emphasis on generalities and the way in which human beings interact with their ecological niche, defining culture as the extrasomatic means of adaptation. Binford's work can largely be seen as a reaction to the culture history approach that preceded the new/processual archaeology.

Although his thought has, like that of most scholars, shown noticeable development over the years, Binford has been criticized for his supposed dogmatism and refusal to accept criticism. In particular, although it is clear from reading his work, Binford's concept of archaeology has developed, Binford himself rarely acknowledges this and as a result has been lead into a number of confrontational debates (see 1). He has been involved in several high profile and often tensely worded debates including arguments with James Sackett on the nature and function of style and on symbolism and methodology with Ian Hodder. He has spoken out and reacted to a number of schools of thought, particularly the post-processual school, the behavioural school, and the symbolic and postmodern anthropologies. Binford is also known for a friendlier rivalry with French archaeologist François Bordes, with whom he argued over the interpretation of Mousterian sites.

Some of Binford's early work was prepared in collaboration with then-wife Sally Binford. Their best-known collaboration is the influential anthology New Perspectives In Archaeology.

Background

Lewis Binford was raised near the Atlantic coast in rural Virginia. His family's usual income came through carpentry, and he put his own skills in this area to use as a graduate student when he started his own contracting business. His interest in anthropology was sparked while working as an interpreter for the U.S. Army in rural villages in postwar Okinawa.

Education

Binford's education includes a B.A. degree from the University of North Carolina and an M.A. and a Ph.D. (1964) from the University of Michigan.^[2] In 2000, he received an honorary doctorate at Leiden University for his role in the development of a more scientific archaeology.

Works

• Archaeology as Anthropology (1963)
• New Perspectives in Archaeology (1968) ISBN 0-202-33022-2
• Nunamiut Ethnoarchaeology (1978) ISBN 0-12-100040-0
• Bones, Ancient Men and Modern Myths (1981) ISBN 0-12-100035-4
• In Pursuit of the Past: Decoding the Archaeological Record (1983) ISBN 0-520-23339-5
• Faunal Remains from Klasies River Mouth (1984) ISBN 0-12-100070-2

References

1. ^ http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/information/biography/abcde/binford_lewis.html
2. ^ http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/information/biography/abcde/binford_lewis.html

See “A Bone to Pick: Interview with Paul Halstead: The processualist/post-processualist controversy http://www.assemblage.group.shef.ac.uk/4/4halst8.html , accessed 6th October 2007, for a discussion of such an incident.

External links

• Lewis Binford – Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist Universityca:Lewis Roberts Binford

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