Postprocessualism

Postprocessualism, also called postprocessual archaeology or interpretive archaeology, is a theoretical strand in archaeology that emerged in the 1980s as a critique of processual archaeology. It challenged the idea that archaeology could be reduced to general laws about human behavior and emphasized that meaning is culturally constructed and context-dependent. Leading figures include Ian Hodder, Michael Shanks, Christopher Tilley, and Ruth Tringham, among others.

Central to postprocessualism is the view that material remains do not have single, objective meanings. Artifacts, features, and landscapes are read as texts that reveal social beliefs, power relations, and ideologies. Archaeology is seen not merely as uncovering universal processes but as interpretation shaped by researchers’ perspectives, cultures, and questions. This approach often integrates phenomenology, hermeneutics, and other strands of critical theory, placing emphasis on agency, symbolism, ritual, and everyday practice.

Methodologically, postprocessualists advocate thick description and contextualized analysis, attending to symbolism, memory, and social life. They often employ interpretive and ethnographic-inspired methods and stress reflexivity—recognizing the archaeologist’s own biases and the politics of interpretation. They also critique scientific objectivity and emphasize the situated nature of knowledge, including issues of gender, power, and socio-political context.

Critics argue that postprocessualism can verge toward relativism and sometimes lacks clear criteria for testing claims or falsifiability, complicating cross-site comparability. Nevertheless, it has influenced archaeology by foregrounding interpretation, culture as text, and the role of power and meaning in the past, contributing to broader critical and heritage studies.