culturehistorical
Culturehistorical, sometimes written as cultural-historical, refers to an approach in archaeology and anthropology that emphasizes identifying and describing past human cultures through their material remains and the geographic and temporal distribution of artifacts. The aim is to delineate archaeological cultures as distinct historical entities and to explain their rise, spread, and interactions through time.
Origins and methods. The culturehistorical paradigm emerged in the early 20th century in Europe and North America
Relationship to other paradigms. Culturehistorical archaeology is frequently contrasted with later approaches such as processual archaeology,
Criticisms and legacy. Critics argue that the culturehistorical approach can oversimplify complex social dynamics, risk ethno-