Historical or Textual Archaeology - An Archaeology of Critical Rereading

Abstract

Based on a discussion of the relationship between history and archaeology, the author proposes a critical analysis of both written and material sources. All sources are considered textual and should be analysed (reread) on three levels: the conceptual, the intentional and the structural. In an example - an analysis of the meaning of the concept ’land'- the value of the analysis is shown to be the formation of a discursive and meaningful concept in an evolutionary and additive production of knowledge. Rereading ought to be the methodological approach of textual archaeology.