dallarcheologia

Dallarcheologia is a term used in some Italian-language scholarly discussions to denote an interdisciplinary approach that studies the production, circulation, and reception of archaeological knowledge itself. It focuses not only on artifacts and sites but on how archaeological narratives are created, how field practices influence evidence, and how heritage policies shape interpretation.

Origin and usage: The term emerged in late 20th and early 21st-century discourse as part of meta-archaeology and critical archaeology movements. It is not universally adopted and remains debated among archaeologists.

Scope and methods: Dallarcheologia draws on archaeology, the history of science, historiography, museology, and digital humanities. Researchers may analyze excavation reports, publication practices, and archive materials; examine provenance and data-management; conduct ethnographic studies of field teams; and study public dissemination of archaeological knowledge.

Subfields and topics: ethics and governance of fieldwork; data stewardship and open-access archives; reinterpretation of past findings; the interplay between museums, media, and audiences.

Relation to related fields: It intersects with public archaeology, archaeology of knowledge, and science and technology studies.

Criticism: Critics argue it can become overly theoretical if it detaches from material evidence, and it requires careful methodological design to yield actionable insights for the discipline.

See also: archaeology, meta-archaeology, public archaeology, historiography of science.