Lyman, R. Lee.
W. C. Mckern and the Midwestern Taxonomic Method. - 1 online resource (318 pages) - Classics Southeast Archaeology Ser. . - Classics Southeast Archaeology Ser. .
Intro -- Contents -- List of Illustrations -- List of Tables -- Preface and Acknowledgments -- PART I: W. C. McKern and the Midwestern Taxonomic Method -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Taxonomic Classi¤cation and Biological Taxonomy -- 3. Developing the Midwestern Taxonomic Method, 1930-1935 -- 4. Subsequent Developments, 1935-1940 -- 5. Applications, Comments, and Later Proposals -- 6. The Midwestern Taxonomic Method in Light of Biological Systematics -- PART I I: Historical Documents -- 7. Culture Type Classi¤cation for Midwestern North American Archaeology -- 8. A Suggested Classi¤cation of Cultures -- 9. Local Types and the Regional Distribution of Pottery- Bearing Cultures -- 10. The Problem of Culture Classi¤cation -- 11. Certain Culture Classi¤cation Problems in Middle Western Archaeology -- 12. Some Assumptions and Implications of the McKern Classi¤cation System -- 13. Review of Rediscovering Illinois: Archaeological Explorations in and around Fulton County -- 14. The McKern and Related Systems of Classi¤cation -- 15. The Midwestern Taxonomic Method as an Aid to Archaeological Culture Study -- 16. Application of the Midwestern Taxonomic Method -- 17. Taxonomy and the Direct Historical Approach -- 18. Regarding Midwestern Archaeological Taxonomy -- 19. An Inaccurate Description of Midwestern Taxonomy -- References Cited -- Index.
This book explains the deep influence of biological methods and theories on the practice of Americanist archaeology by exploring W. C. McKern's use of Linnaean taxonomy as the model for development of a pottery classification system. By the early 20th century, North American archaeologists had found evidence of a plethora of prehistoric cultures displaying disparate geographic and chronological distributions. But there were no standards or algorithms for specifying when a culture was distinct or identical to another in a nearby or distant region. Will Carleton McKern of the Milwaukee Public Museum addressed this fundamental problem of cultural classification beginning in 1929. He modeled his solution-known as the Midwestern Taxonomic Method-on the Linnaean biological taxonomy because he wanted the ability to draw historical and cultural "relationships" among cultures. McKern was assisted during development of the method by Carl E. Guthe, Thorne Deuel, James B. Griffin, and William Ritchie. This book studies the 1930s correspondence between McKern and his contemporaries as they hashed out the method's nuances. It compares the several different versions of the method and examines the Linnaean biological taxonomy as it was understood and used at the time McKern adapted it to archaeological problems. Finally, this volume reveals how and why the method failed to provide the analytical solution envisioned by McKern and his colleagues and how it influenced the later development of Americanist archaeology.
9780817382032
Archaeology -- Middle West -- Methodology.
Archaeology -- United States -- History.
Indians of North America -- Middle West -- Antiquities -- Classification.
McKern, W. C. -- (Will Carleton), -- 1892-.
Middle West -- Antiquities.
Electronic books.
E78
977/.01
W. C. Mckern and the Midwestern Taxonomic Method. - 1 online resource (318 pages) - Classics Southeast Archaeology Ser. . - Classics Southeast Archaeology Ser. .
Intro -- Contents -- List of Illustrations -- List of Tables -- Preface and Acknowledgments -- PART I: W. C. McKern and the Midwestern Taxonomic Method -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Taxonomic Classi¤cation and Biological Taxonomy -- 3. Developing the Midwestern Taxonomic Method, 1930-1935 -- 4. Subsequent Developments, 1935-1940 -- 5. Applications, Comments, and Later Proposals -- 6. The Midwestern Taxonomic Method in Light of Biological Systematics -- PART I I: Historical Documents -- 7. Culture Type Classi¤cation for Midwestern North American Archaeology -- 8. A Suggested Classi¤cation of Cultures -- 9. Local Types and the Regional Distribution of Pottery- Bearing Cultures -- 10. The Problem of Culture Classi¤cation -- 11. Certain Culture Classi¤cation Problems in Middle Western Archaeology -- 12. Some Assumptions and Implications of the McKern Classi¤cation System -- 13. Review of Rediscovering Illinois: Archaeological Explorations in and around Fulton County -- 14. The McKern and Related Systems of Classi¤cation -- 15. The Midwestern Taxonomic Method as an Aid to Archaeological Culture Study -- 16. Application of the Midwestern Taxonomic Method -- 17. Taxonomy and the Direct Historical Approach -- 18. Regarding Midwestern Archaeological Taxonomy -- 19. An Inaccurate Description of Midwestern Taxonomy -- References Cited -- Index.
This book explains the deep influence of biological methods and theories on the practice of Americanist archaeology by exploring W. C. McKern's use of Linnaean taxonomy as the model for development of a pottery classification system. By the early 20th century, North American archaeologists had found evidence of a plethora of prehistoric cultures displaying disparate geographic and chronological distributions. But there were no standards or algorithms for specifying when a culture was distinct or identical to another in a nearby or distant region. Will Carleton McKern of the Milwaukee Public Museum addressed this fundamental problem of cultural classification beginning in 1929. He modeled his solution-known as the Midwestern Taxonomic Method-on the Linnaean biological taxonomy because he wanted the ability to draw historical and cultural "relationships" among cultures. McKern was assisted during development of the method by Carl E. Guthe, Thorne Deuel, James B. Griffin, and William Ritchie. This book studies the 1930s correspondence between McKern and his contemporaries as they hashed out the method's nuances. It compares the several different versions of the method and examines the Linnaean biological taxonomy as it was understood and used at the time McKern adapted it to archaeological problems. Finally, this volume reveals how and why the method failed to provide the analytical solution envisioned by McKern and his colleagues and how it influenced the later development of Americanist archaeology.
9780817382032
Archaeology -- Middle West -- Methodology.
Archaeology -- United States -- History.
Indians of North America -- Middle West -- Antiquities -- Classification.
McKern, W. C. -- (Will Carleton), -- 1892-.
Middle West -- Antiquities.
Electronic books.
E78
977/.01