Actor-Network Theory and the Practice of Aviation Archaeology. Issue 1 (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Deal, Michael; Daly, Lisa M.; Mathias, Cathy
• Is Part Of: Journal of conflict archaeology. Volume 10:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 3
• Page End: 28
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: Battlefields -- History -- Periodicals; Excavations (Archaeology) -- Periodicals; Military history -- Periodicals; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1179/1574077315Z.00000000041
• Languages: German
• ISSNs: 1574-0773

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>World War II aviation archaeology is a dynamic subfield of conflict archaeology, which has developed through the need to conserve twentieth-century military heritage resources. Like battlefield archaeology (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="rf69">Pollard and Banks, 2005</xref>: iii–vii), it has only recently emerged as a credible area of academic study. Theoretical development in both areas has been dominated by a military, historical-particularist viewpoint, which often ignores the role of society in warfare. Actor-network theory, which stresses the link between society and technology, provides an opportunity to broaden the theoretical perspective of aviation archaeology research. Recent archaeological work at a downed USAAF aircraft site near Gander, Newfoundland, is presented as a case study to illustrate the enlistment of a network of stakeholders, material culture, and textual and audio-visual evidence in the interpretation of a single site.</p> </abstract>