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Summarization of Presentation Lecture Essay - Survey of Applied Anthropology - A201 - Essay - IUPUI
Dr. Larry Zimmerman’s Homeless Case Study
Many people are fascinated by the idea of Archaeology and Archaeologists in general. From Indiana Jones to ational Treasure , the imaginations of cinematic authors certainly borrow bits and pieces of archaeological and anthropological theory and idea. The expectation of students of anthropology and archaeology is tainted by the fantastical representations provided by popular culture limiting them from understanding the full range of possibilities inherent in the field. The best exemplification of this comes in the work of Dr. Larry Zimmerman in his pioneering case study of homeless communities in Indianapolis. This essay will serve to support the ideas of Dr. Zimmerman on the definition of archaeology, what it can do, and what can be applied from archaeological findings.
The Concept of Time and the Definition of Archaeology
The idea that archaeology serves as a study of past material remains, locked away in stratigraphic layers, is central to the conventional understanding of the discipline. Certainly, the statement can be made that archaeologists devote a substantial amount of field work researching historic and prehistoric subjects. The archaeological toolbox, thus, is complete with tools used to examine and interpret the remains of these subjects. The concept of time, deeply central to archaeological query, is often misidentified and tied to only those periods and epochs that make up the past. If archaeology is the study solely of the material remains of past people, then it is expected that the material remains of current populations of people would lack any informational value. Unfortunately for this train of thought, the past is created on a constant basis. As Zimmerman points out in Activism and creating a translational archaeology of homelessness , archaeological tools can be used to generate information within a boundary between past and present. By studying the cultural materials left at any particular point in time, be it 5 minutes ago or 5, years ago, an understanding of the people who left the material can be ascertained. The impact from this revised notion of the concept of time on the definition of archaeology is important. The casting of archaeology as a study of the material remains of past people immediately comes into question, due to the fact that the definition of ‘past people’ is vastly remade to include not only those who have come before us but ourselves as well. With that in mind, the definition of archaeology –along with the conceived notions that accompany it- changes to be solely the study of cultural material remains.
Rebirth of Archaeology
Archaeological investigation tools, once limited to interest areas from the past, are fully capable to be utilized on modern regions of interest. The impact of this utilization arises in the ability of archaeology to provide information upon which meaningful practices can be drawn. Zimmerman
notes in Activism and creating a translational archaeology of homelessness that one way for this to occur is via the usage of translational research. This research generates knowledge that is capable of utilizing evidence to address problems that plague modern day cultures and societies. Interpretation and analysis of this evidence can be translated by collaborative partners from other disciplines to enact change in practice, policy, and application.
Modern day issues would greatly benefit from the insight gleaned from archaeological investigation. One important area is that of the current issue of global climate change. Archaeological investigation would provide a look at how past episodes of climatic change at both the regional and global level with insight on how populations current to the past episodes adapted to the change. Analysis along this line could potentially present applications capable of aiding modern populations regionally deal with the change in environment associated with climate change (i.e. change in diet, loss of natural resources from depleted/changing environmental habitats, and locating lost sources of water).
The ability of archaeology to provide information that can lead to application represents a rebirth of archaeology. From the rebirth of an archaeologist as a gatherer of information and items for museums to the potential new look of an archaeologist as a key part of policy formation and development the future of the discipline has been expanded.
Applied Archaeology – +ew Horizons
The work of Dr. Zimmerman with the cultural remains of homeless populations in Indianapolis and the potential applications that will result is witness to the birth of applied (or relevant) archaeology. The findings of Zimmerman’s work, as presented in Archaeology of the Homeless by Nicole Albertson, present information that is rich in future application. The best exemplification of this comes in the discovery at homeless sites in Indianapolis of many different items that serve no purpose to homeless populations. The first of these items are canned foods. The cans that held these items were discovered in various states: exploded, crudely opened, and unopened. The state of the cans presented several questions, namely, how were homeless people expected to open them? The second items were hotel shampoo bottles. With no running water, toiletry items of this type are virtually useless. Both of these items ended up in the hands of the inhabitants of these sites. Further investigation discovered that these items came from local churches. The parishioners of these churches were asked to donate items to be distributed to the homeless. The applied solution arising from this information was a better understanding of what the needs of the homeless are and what items can be donated to meet these needs. The greater application from this is a refined designation of how archaeological information can be applied to address issues plaguing modern populations.
Conclusion
floating from one small war to the next, Anthropologists found themselves increasingly entrenched in military affairs and policy. Unfortunately, despite this entrenchment, many times their advice and understanding was ignored by policy makers and planners. This was largely the case during the Vietnam War. It has been the case in recent years, due to increased involvement in conflicts in regions of the world where cultural and social differences may result from long term to short term occupations (i.e. Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, South Korea).
Human Terrain Systems
It is within the last decade, that the most recent arguments over anthropological involvement in times of war have occurred. This is largely due to the implementation of the United States Defense Department’s Human Terrain Systems Project. This project places anthropologists/social scientists within military units to study occupied peoples, negotiate relations among groups, and provide valuable information and counsel to U.S. military field commanders. The controversy over this increased exponentially with the release in October 2007 of an official statement on the project by the American Anthropological Association’s Executive Board. This statement, American Anthropological Association Executive Statement on the Human Terrain System Project , makes 5 points or concerns the board has with the program: constraints on ability to carry out anthropological ethical responsibility of disclosure, potential for conflict between anthropologists and military units that may lead to harm to those being studied, potential for compromising of voluntary informed consent, potential for information provided by HTS anthropologists to make decisions of groups/populations to target for military operations, and potential for serious difficulty for non-HTS anthropologists. As with any debate or argument, it is possible to see two or more sides. With the American Anthropological Association’s official release, it is clear that more research needs to be done into the ethical nature of the HTS program. In the first sentence of the second paragraph of the official statement the board makes mention that there was no systematic study of the HTS project. This implies that the points/concerns raised rest largely on theoretical grounds that may or may not be substantiated with support.
Fine Line Between Civic and Scientific Service
Finally, the issue of anthropological involvement in military and governmental operations is in and of itself a ‘fine line’. With historical boycotts, epic quotes from historical and contemporary figures, and a legacy that extends over 300 years, this issue is certainly still of great significance to modern anthropologists. The concern is best put by C. Wright Mills, as quoted in When Anthropologists Become Counterinsurgents by Roberto J. Gonzalez and David H. Price, the rapid transformation of scientists into technicians shows a lack of social responsibility for their actions. That idea that placing ones national interest over ones global interest, which arose in the mid to late 19th century, still resonates today in most western nations. The ideas of science,
which rise from the search for truth, can be compromised by nationalistic militarism. Cultures can become misunderstood, threatened, and downtrodden. It is the role of Anthropology to provide answers to prevent these issues – not information to support the continued status quo.
Conclusion – Continued Conflict
It is said that today’s world is significantly changed from the world that existed a mere 100 years ago. With mechanization, computerization, and globalization we are much more connected to each other than ever before. Information from a remote village in the Congo can be readily accessed in seconds some 2000 miles away. While the dynamics of the world have changed in that nature, the ideas that first made us modernized still persist: nationalism, imperialism, and colonialism. It was clear reading these articles that the overwhelming consensus of Anthropologists on military related programs rests in the idea that militaries still follow those three forces covertly and that the usage of anthropology to pursue the labors of those concepts is unethical. On the other hand, it is clear that in some instances (such as the HTS project) a more in depth study is necessary to insure that the concerns of anthropologists are fully substantiated by evidence. Regardless, the usage of anthropology within military circles will still be a hotly debated issue worthy of further research.
