Negotiating difference: practice makes theory for contemporary archaeology in Oceania

Citation: Robin Torrence and Anne Clarke (2000) Negotiating difference: practice makes theory for contemporary archaeology in Oceania. The Archaeology of Difference: negotiating cross-cultural engagements in Oceania. pp1-31 (RSS)
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Summary

The author overviewed the studies of interaction between the indigenous people and European settler societies in the recent period in Oceania. He emphasizes the important role of archaeology, which provides a direct way to understand the indigenous voice and recognize the nature of cross-cultural engagement. Rather than seeking the universal models for explaining the interaction cases in Oceania, recent studies focus on the unique process of interaction and assume the those process are context specific, which should be studied by the recognition of cultural difference and historical circumstance. The author also clarify the terms ”contact”, “encounter” and “engagement”, which refers to different interaction. The contact tends to deny the active role of indigenous people. The term “encounter” can cover both sides in the interaction but fails to describe the process. He thinks the engagement is the best term because it stresses the active involvement of both sides, such as negotiation.