Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
I find Barbara very irritating this morning. Feel she is being rather dominant and imposing her
views and interpretations. (Tilley 1996: Jun 17)
with Chris I sometimes feel over-whelmed. He doesnt seem to leave space for alternative
for other peoples stories. (Bender 1996: Jun 18)
29
In anthropology, the diary format played a key role in conveying the fieldworkers
methods and intentions, and so greatly impacted on the discipline itself (Sinclair
2000: 477-78). Famously, it was the publication of Bronislaw Malinowskis diaries,
recounting his fieldwork in Kiriwina that revealed how, far from obtaining objective
data, the anthropologists overwhelming preoccupations and state of mind must have
had a considerable effect on what he saw and the sense he made of it (Gosden
1999: 58).
Archaeologists, meanwhile, held a firm belief in the veracity of objective data
obtained through scientific methods, with the emergence of the new or processual
archaeology movement in the 1960s. Nevertheless, the diary form has long
continued to constitute a part of field recording, Greek archaeology over the past
century being one example (Hitchcock 2009, pers. comm.). Yet, such diaries
constitute daily field notes and are not self-consciously employed as reflections on
subjectivity and relativity of knowledge production. The diary is, rather, an additional
means of empirical recording.
In more recent years, the archaeological diary has undergone a revival thanks to the
post-processual emphasis on the subjectivity of archaeological practice stemming
from post-structuralist precepts involving deconstructive reading, disregard for grand
narratives and meta-texts (Olsen 1991) , and the vogue for phenomenological
approaches (Chadwick 2003; Hodder 1999: 121-3; Olsen 2006; Tilley 1994, 2004;
Tilley et al. 2000). Explanations of field methods often include a temporal element
that describes the sequential nature of fieldwork and flags the subjective experience
of fieldworkers. An example of this is the differential role of gender in sensory
experiences of archaeological sites (Hamilton and Whitehouse 2006). The keeping of
field diaries may even be a requirement for students taking archaeology courses (cf.
Hamilakis 2004).
Use of the diary has not been confined to avant-garde, academic archaeology.
Diaries have also been adopted in commercial, public and popular spheres to
present fieldwork in an accessible and unambiguous way. They are also used as a
means of accountability that demonstrates the temporal progress of archaeological
work. In the case of the British television series Time Team, the sequential nature of
excavation is used as a dramatic device: weve got three days to.... As
communications technology develops and becomes more accessible, digital formats
can enhance the immediacy of archaeological recording including for diary-writing
(Hodder 1999: 120-8; 2003b: 61-2).
Critiquing the archaeological diary
It is with the diary as a published format as well as a writing genre that we are
concerned. Though content and tone are integral, the manner in which the writing is
disseminated and received can determine its meaning. Through publication, the
personal can become deeply political: romantic musings can be perceived as, and
hence transformed into, ideological dogma; trivial disagreements and bickering may
be read as reflecting political and class dynamics. The seemingly innocuous journal
can become a document of control, a chronicle that cements the legacy of a
campaign. It therefore projects a variety of signals authenticity, reliability, drama
30
that can become confused and compromised through the genres intentionally
subjective tone.
Our critique is not intended as an attack on subjective or post-processual
approaches. We admire the use of fieldwork diaries, and many of the issues that we
raise have been identified and discussed by the diary authors we cite (see below).
We are, however, calling for further reflexivity of reflexivity (Pels 2000: 17-18; cf.
Bourdieu 2003: 282), specifically in terms of how field practice is presented in the
diary format. Thus, we aim to scrutinize the process by which archaeological
knowledge is produced, conveyed and consecrated. Moreover, considering forms of
writing in archaeology encourages critical thinking of the disciplines aims as a
method of documentation versus a creative, imaginative and performative act.
The diary may be seen as an invitation to reflexivity that captures the essence of the
subjects interaction with the archaeological record (Hodder 2003b). Its apparent
spontaneity and subjectivity are responsible for assimilating together different kinds
of discursive field which collide and mix, constituting the world-view of the author. As
a compilation of spatio-temporally specific information, the diary in effect fossilizes as
residue of the context in which it was generated. Thus, it may be seen as an artefact
itself, a relic of archaeological experience strung together by means of language. Its
strength (and, arguably, its weakness) is that it is immutable, and, as with
phenomenological approaches, cannot be engaged with on a critical basis (Fleming
2006). Put another way, its subjectivity poses a challenge to traditional modes of
academic discourse. Who, after all, can question the primacy of the participantobserver?
Therefore, while it may be seen as a relic of archaeological practice in that it is
representative of the particular circumstances in which it was produced, the diary is
at the same time self-consciously agent specific. Its apparent spontaneity can, then,
be used to reify a pre-determined interpretation, vision or hierarchy. This makes the
format peculiarly powerful and problematic. Though self-awareness and self-criticism
are laudable and description of the circumstances in which information is gained is
crucial, ostentatious subjectivity can become as much a posture as positivist
detachment.
Rather than clarifying the relationship between the archaeologist and the material
past, the diary can add further distance between the subject, the reader, and the
presentation of data. Accordingly, the diary has the potential to reify hierarchy and
self-promotion rather than subvert them. Thus, we are interested in seeing how the
archaeological diary, as an informal method of recording, affects the organization of
empirical data, given its capabilities and problematic status.
Case Study: diaries from the atalhyk and Leskernick projects
To illustrate the advantages and problems of using diaries in archaeology, we shall
deal with two sets of diaries from a contemporary and a recent project. The diary
entries come from the 2008 season of the atalhyk project, the long-running and
ongoing excavation of a Neolithic settlement in central Anatolia, directed by Ian
Hodder; and from the 1996 season of the Leskernick project, which investigated Late
Neolithic and Bronze Age remains on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, southwest Britain,
31
under the direction of Barbara Bender, Sue Hamilton and Christopher Tilley. The use
of diaries and other experimental recording methods at these projects has been
discussed in a number of publications (Hodder 1999, 2000, 2003a; Farid 2000; Tilley
et al. 2000; Bender et al. 2007), and diaries from both of these projects are available
online (see bibliography).
The diary is of the moment
The unpolished and unprocessed nature of the diary may be seen as advantageous
in that it captures the moment/s of the archaeologists interaction with the
archaeological record. This is in contrast to post hoc field reports and final
publications, whose composition may be subject to any number of influences (Tilley
1989: 278; Sinclair 2000: 478; Pels 2000: 2). Arguably the diary pre-empts such
corruption through highlighting the formulation of the co-extension between data and
interpretation as it happens, as the following entries from the atalhyk and
Leskernick diaries demonstrate:
We dicided to grid up the area and send it all to flotation, in case we can establish any
meaningful patterns in the deposition of the obsidian. Although my observations thus far
suggest that it will be concentrated in a spread of slightly darker material containing more
charcoal to the southwest of the space. This may end up being recorded as a separate unit,
possibly a discrete dump, but the jury is out on this for now, since I haven't quite decided
whether the floor is really just a compacted make-up dump layer anyway, with an ad-hoc
working surface. (JST 2008: Jul 13)
CG and Gary began trowelling the interior of H23. It is difficult to positively identify a door on
this structure. The triangular 'backstone' appears to be in a niche, given that the wall seems to
be single skinned. With the turf removed and further stones exposed, H23 now looks less
circular. A problem which we will have to monitor just how deturfing and excavation alters
surface impressions. (Hamilton 1996: Jun 8)
In these entries, the decisions, thoughts and predictions made by the excavators are
shown as informed by the process of excavation itself. Based on pre-existing
knowledge and experience, immediate interpretations of artefacts and contexts are
offered. Here, the diary clarifies the process of categorization and interpretation
through the archaeologist revealing his/her interaction with the material evidence.
Thus, field reports can be written that juxtapose objective description with
subjective experience, thereby giving a more transparent view of how conclusions
are reached (Bender et al. 1997).
The diary tells it how it is
It is possible for the archaeological diary to demystify the archaeological process
using frank, conversational language (cf. Olsen 2006: 147). The diary can
demonstrate the arbitrary nature of data categorization, and, in the context of the
atalhyk and Leskernick projects, the difficulties of excavating at a Neolithic site.
In addition, the documentation of difficulties surrounding interpretation and
classification of material further illuminates the co-extension between interpretation
as provided in a publication and activity in the field itself. In this sense, the reader of
the diary is freed to an extent from the the tyranny of the predetermined narrative
(Barker 1999: 25) that a more polished piece of writing would offer. The reader is
instead offered archaeology through a number of hermeneutic pathways (Hodder
2000: 9-10):
32
Talking of potential misinterpretation we swung by the 4040 yesterday and im a bit concerned
about whats going on there. For instance Mikes supposed "burnt" building. They dont seem to
have noticed that the walls of the building quite clearly cut the "burnt material" if thats what it
is. And in Dans area all those little flooring events he has us belive is going on, we had similar
deposits in all the buildings we took out which we, I think correctly, identified as one or two
events at most, what is going on? (RR 2008: Jul 16)
We walk back to the southern settlement to what Barbara calls the 'organic cluster' of houses.
Goodness knows why she calls it this. To me it seems the reverse: a rather well-planned and
set out series of houses in two parallel rows. (Tilley 1996: Jun 4)
Having the accounts of several people working on the same project can also
demonstrate multivocality when it comes to examining artefacts, features and
contexts, and the conflicts that may arise from differing interpretations (Hamilakis
1999: 66). It shows the contentious nature of archaeological data and the difficulties
encountered when correlating data and interpretation. Expectations formed before
and in the course of fieldwork can be overturned in a moment by discoveries that are
documented as events:
I was about to bashe out the first mixed make-up/floor layer, (16523), when lo and behold
out popped armfuls of obsidian debitage. (JST 2008: Jul 13)
On Thursday JMR and KJK had taken down with unit 16833 what looked like a massive
homogenous mass of room infill in the corner of walls 2426 and 2408. In the planum I had had
some doubts if there were some mudbricks, especially as BE had seen mortar lines there in
2006. But it looked completely homogenous in the section created by cut of grave 2416, and
was not visible while taking it down at all. After a day of drying, however, the brown loose
room infill became easily discernible from hard brownish-yellow mudbrick. This taught me
another lesson on mudbrick walls and on believing in sections. Sometimes it seems as if the
West Mound is playing tricks on me (ER 2008: Jul 26)
33
The prospect of publishing the diaries, and the authors awareness of this, would
further alter the way that they would approach the diary in terms of content and tone.
Of course, it is natural that interpretations begin to change and fluctuate as soon as
they are formed and disseminated, but the possibility of tracking this process is
34
Since the diaries of atalhyk were always intended to be published for broader
consumption, this would have consciously and subconsciously shaped the content of
the entries (see KJK 2008: Jul 16). Similarly, the idea of publishing the Leskernick
diaries on the internet was met with some tension on the part of the project directors
(Basu 1998: Jan 12). Indeed, they kept two sets of diaries for the project, one
censored and another uncensored, for the purpose of such an outcome (Basu 1998:
Jan 26).
The diary enforces hierarchy
The Leskernick diaries frequently record interpersonal interaction rather than
archaeological information. From the very first day of the 1996 season, the diary
entries indicate a division within the team that is presented as being based on
interpretive capability imaginative, interpretive, post-processual versus manual,
mechanical, functionalist. This results in a persistent strain between the directors (or
settlement people) and the diggers, generating a top-down interpersonal hierarchy
Bender 1996: Jun 2; Hamilton 1996: Jun 2; Tilley 1996: Jun 2, 20, 21). The head of
the diggers, Mike Seager-Thomas, is isolated as a personality to be consistently
targeted by the diarist directors. He is frequently described as argumentative and
aggressive (Bender 1996: Jun 2; Tilley 1996: Jun 2), and his functionalist views and
antithetical stance amount to an anarchy threatening the project:
Ate pretty late. Almost immediately the crisp man, Mike [S-T], launched into a fairly
aggressive attack on the idea that the backstones were in any way special. Came up with all
sorts of functional explanations - but claimed hed never heard of Functionalism. Rubbished
our attempts to discuss alternative ways of interpreting. Twice - thrice - reiterated that anyway,
it didnt matter, since he wasnt in charge. Long discussion of hierarchies. All rather tense and
unsatisfactory. The other two men (Ash, Chris G.) completely stum. Chris pretty quiet. Sue
trying to hold her corner. Penni and Marilyn attempting occasional intercessions. Felt very riled
that, despite our best attempts, we had imported someone who seemed pretty antagonistic.
(Bender 1996: Jun 2)
He may well ruin the project. (Tilley 1996: Jun 2)
Far from being inclusive and facilitating multiple perspectives, the Leskernick diaries
reveal and reify hierarchical dynamics. Though Tilley states emphatically that the
diggers are the ones wanting a hierarchy (Tilley 1996: Jun 2), it is ironic that the diary
format and content as it is published on the internet reinforce the class microcosm of
the project, for only the directors diaries are available for consumption. The lack of
voice from the diggers and students is remarkable. This amounts to a controlled,
post-processual rite, even reaching the point of dictating the diary writing of the
excavators by guiding them through the process (Bender 1996: Jun 6). The
supposedly non hierarchical nature of the project is a fiction and there is a latent
hierarchy which is described as not a bad thing as obviously those with more
knowledge and experience are bound to have a certain authority over those who are
basically students (Bender et al. 1997: 172).
35
Therefore, Tilley is correct in noting the power of the diary as setting a particular
agenda (Tilley 1996: Jun 4), for it generates its own cognitive and moral arena (Pels
2000: 9). Against the backdrop of animosity and division between the Leskernick
team members, the diary becomes a device which the directors use to issue criticism
of those refusing to participate in the experiments of the project. The act of diary
writing is consequently transformed into a method of confessional purification [that]
subtly ensnares and downgrades those who are incapable of opening up and
revealing themselves after the imperative example of the confessor (Pels 2000: 8).
The diary detracts from archaeological information
In the atalhyk diaries, the veering away of attention from the archaeological
process has also been an issue, for the diary often came to be used as a device for
expressing personal frustration (Farid 2000: 25). Such attention given to the personal
has been labelled as narcissism (Moore 1994: 45; Bourdieu 2003: 282), in that the
processes demonstrating the dynamic between the subject and the object/s of
interpretation are disregarded in favour of personal narratives, which steer the diary
36
away from its ability to elucidate the archaeological process. Needless to say, in this
essay we seem to be commentating on archaeological projects as if they were soap
operas, acted out by a clique of professional academics!
Though shifting the focus away from the archaeological process is a relatively
obvious sign of the diary detracting from real data, recording and prioritizing of
interpretation is another more subtle means. This is also connected to the issue of
interpretations which are at odds with those of the project directors. In the following
entries, Tilley reflects on his own role in controlling data collection and interpretation
by giving precedence to his voice when recording features:
Should I be writing down what Marylyn says even if I deem it to be inaccurate? (Tilley 1996:
Jun 14)
Matt is extremely upset when I dismiss as uninteresting what he thinks is a very significant
triangular stone. (Tilley 1996: Jun 19)
It emerges that not all interpretations are equal, despite claims of multiple
perspectives that were supposedly a driving force behind keeping diaries in the first
place. Not only are the views of the excavators and students marginalized but the
relationship between the directors themselves regarding interpretation too becomes
strained. Thus, issues of hierarchy are brought to the fore and seen as indivisible
from the processes of the creation of archaeological knowledge.
Conclusions
In discussing the content and format of the archaeological diary, we have raised
some issues regarding the use of diaries in archaeology, and particularly their
circulation in print and on the internet. They are intriguing documents, complex and
difficult to hold to a unified standard, as each contains the perspective of an
individual. It is therefore questionable whether we can even talk of the archaeological
diary.
There are several benefits to writing diaries during archaeological fieldwork: they
encourage reflexive practice; acknowledge the subjectivity of the archaeologist; and
to some extent negate the subjective-objective opposition; they provide raw data
rather than the cooked final report, and therefore are less distorted by hindsight; and
they allow for multiple voices and viewpoints. But these benefits can all be subverted
in practice, and may in fact turn into negatives: reflexivity and transparency may
mask or confuse an objective truth; what appear to be spontaneous notes may in fact
be premeditated accounts, especially when the writing of diaries is a contrived
exercise rather than a personal choice.
Therefore, we do not dismiss the adoption of diaries in archaeology: we regard their
use at Leskernick and atalhyk as having contributed significantly to the dialogue
over reflexivity and subjective practice. We argue, though, that attempts to attain
multivocality and immediacy have sometimes backfired and resulted in quite the
opposite the reinforcement of hierarchies, privileged voices, and pre-determined
narratives.
37
Thus, the notion that diaries are authentic, faithful representations of archaeological
practice remains problematic. While they do not solve problems associated with
knowledge production and bridging the data-interpretation divide, their capacity to
describe circumstances impacting on the production of archaeological knowledge
and the legacy of an archaeological campaign gives archaeologists additional tools
with which they are able to evaluate their work and make informed decisions about
the processes of excavation and interpretation.
It is a brave step to publish personal diaries, though can be a calculated one.
Nevertheless, people are fallible and diaries help to reveal mistakes the process of
trial and error through which we reach conclusions and create knowledge. Thus, the
use of diaries not only enlivens archaeological writing, it is an important (though not
unproblematic) step towards eroding the unspoken conventions and meta-narratives
that often pervade writing on field archaeology.
Diary entries
Basu 1998 = Introductory note to the Leskernick
<http://www.ucl.ac.uk/leskernick/diaries.html>
diaries,
available
online
at
Bender 1996 = Diary entries from the 1996 season of the Leskernick Project, available online
at <http://www.ucl.ac.uk/leskernick/diaries.html>
CM 2008 = Diary entries from the 2008 season of the atalhyk Project, available online at
<http://www.catalhoyuk.com/database/catal/diarybrowse.asp>
DEL 2008 = Diary entries from the 2008 season of the atalhyk Project, available online at
<http://www.catalhoyuk.com/database/catal/diarybrowse.asp>
ER 2008 = Diary entries from the 2008 season of the atalhyk Project, available online at
<http://www.catalhoyuk.com/database/catal/diarybrowse.asp>
Hamilton 1996 = Diary entries from the 1996 season of the Leskernick Project, available
online at <http://www.ucl.ac.uk/leskernick/diaries.html>
HSL 2008 = Diary entries from the 2008 season of the atalhyk Project, available online at
<http://www.catalhoyuk.com/database/catal/diarybrowse.asp>
JJW 2008 = Diary entries from the 2008 season of the atalhyk Project, available online at
<http://www.catalhoyuk.com/database/catal/diarybrowse.asp>
JST 2008 = Diary entries from the 2008 season of the atalhyk Project, available online at
<http://www.catalhoyuk.com/database/catal/diarybrowse.asp>
KJK 2008 = Diary entries from the 2008 season of the atalhyk Project, available online at
<http://www.catalhoyuk.com/database/catal/diarybrowse.asp>
RBW 2008 = Diary entries from the 2008 season of the atalhyk Project, available online
at <http://www.catalhoyuk.com/database/catal/diarybrowse.asp>
RR 2008 = Diary entries from the 2008 season of the atalhyk Project, available online at
<http://www.catalhoyuk.com/database/catal/diarybrowse.asp>
38
SO 2008 = Diary entries from the 2008 season of the atalhyk Project, available online at
<http://www.catalhoyuk.com/database/catal/diarybrowse.asp>
Tilley 1996 = Diary entries from the 1996 season of the Leskernick Project, available online
at <http://www.ucl.ac.uk/leskernick/diaries.html>
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