Books by Stephanie Wynne-Jones
Theory in Africa, Africa in Theory, 2015
Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 2017
Theory in Africa, Africa in Theory explores the place of Africa in archaeological theory, and the... more Theory in Africa, Africa in Theory explores the place of Africa in archaeological theory, and the place of theory in African archaeology. The centrality of Africa to global archaeological thinking is highlighted, with a particular focus on materiality and agency in contemporary interpretation. As a means to explore the nature of theory itself, the volume also addresses differences between how African models are used in western theoretical discourse and the use of that theory within Africa. Providing a key contribution to theoretical discourse through a focus on the context of theory-building, this volume explores how African modes of thought have shaped our approaches to a meaningful past outside of Africa.
A timely intervention into archaeological thought, Theory in Africa, Africa in Theory deconstructs the conventional ways we approach the past, positioning the continent within a global theoretical discourse and blending Western and African scholarship. This volume will be a valuable resource for those interested in the archaeology of Africa, as well as providing fresh perspectives to those interested in archaeological theory more generally.
Papers by Stephanie Wynne-Jones
Journal of Eastern African Studies, 2024
The House of Wonders (or Beit al-Ajaib), one of the iconic buildings of Zanzibar’s waterfront, pa... more The House of Wonders (or Beit al-Ajaib), one of the iconic buildings of Zanzibar’s waterfront, partially collapsed on 25th December 2020. This catastrophic incident, which included the famous clocktower, killed two people who had been inside the building and injured several others. The House of Wonders has prompted fascination and admiration since its construction as part of a redevelopment of Zanzibar’s waterfront by Sultan Barghash in 1883. Its collapse attracted worldwide media attention. This article explores the dynamics of history and heritage in Zanzibar, using the collapse of the House of Wonders as the catalyst for analysing the ways that Zanzibaris feel about the presentation of the past. The research involved a series of interviews with residents of Stone Town in which participants discussed the collapse of the House of Wonders and themes of history, identity and tourism. Our project reveals the layered associations with the House of Wonders, one which acknowledges the building’s Omani origins and colonial use but simultaneously its centrality as an icon of Zanzibar. The article also discusses what these findings about the House of Wonders reveal about the complex relationship between perceptions of Zanzibari cultural heritage and the role of tourism.
Routledge eBooks, Oct 16, 2017
Oxford University Press eBooks, May 19, 2016
<p>A Material Culture focuses on objects in Swahili society through the elaboration of an a... more <p>A Material Culture focuses on objects in Swahili society through the elaboration of an approach that sees both people and things as caught up in webs of mutual interaction. It therefore provides both a new theoretical intervention in some of the key themes in material culture studies, including the agency of objects and the ways they were linked to social identities, through the development of the notion of a biography of practice. These theoretical discussions are explored through the archaeology of the Swahili, on the Indian Ocean coast of eastern Africa. This coast was home to a series of "stonetowns" (containing coral architecture) from the ninth century AD onwards, of which Kilwa Kisiwani is the most famous, considered here in regional context. These stonetowns were deeply involved in maritime trade, carried out among a diverse, Islamic population. This book suggests that the Swahili are a highly-significant case study for exploration of the relationship between objects and people in the past, as the society was constituted and defined through a particular material setting. Further, it is suggested that this relationship was subtly different than in other areas, and particularly from western models that dominate prevailing analysis. The case is made for an alternative form of materiality, perhaps common to the wider Indian Ocean world, with an emphasis on redistribution and circulation rather than on the accumulation of wealth. The reader will therefore gain familiarity with a little-known and fascinating culture, as well as appreciating the ways that non-western examples can add to our theoretical models.</p>
Antiquity, Dec 1, 2004
S. TERRY CHILDS (ed.). Our collective responsibility: the ethics and practice of archaeological c... more S. TERRY CHILDS (ed.). Our collective responsibility: the ethics and practice of archaeological collections stewardship. xi+178 pages, 16 figures, 1 table. 2004. Washington (DC): Society for American Archaeology; 0-932839-28-2 paperback $30.95 [nonmembers]. THOMAS F. KING. Cultural resource laws and practice: an introductory guide (2 nd ed.). xviii+408 pages, 9 figures. 2004. Walnut Creek (CA): Altamira; 0-7591-0473-5 hardback £55, 0-7591-0474-3 paperback £20.95. Mitigation was commissioned to 'categorise types of below-ground archaeological' resources in England, to 'produce an easy-to-understand guide to engineering and construction techniques and mitigation', to 'review the status of existing knowledge' and to 'produce an easily updatable … database of … sites in England' with 'preservation in situ schemes involving engineering' (p. 1). With a detailed catalogue of 'processes', the report considers operations of engineering and sums up techniques for preservation (e.g. Rose Theatre, London). Added are notes on the planning system, a case study, and an amply annotated bibliography. The CD provides a well organised data base of sites and agencies. For the USA, TERRY CHILDS introduces a dozen thorough papers on collections and archives, on the management and use of collections, on 'Native American issues', on 'incorporating public education into the curation process', and on training, plus 'a personal retrospective' (W. Marquardt). Here too is good practical guidance. Also for the USA, and equally down to earth, is a new edition of T.F. KING's handbook, full of sensible, lightly written advice on a host of contingencies. COLIN RENFREW & PAUL BAHN. Archaeology: theories, methods and practice (4 th ed.). 656 pages, illustrations, tables. 2004. London: Thames & Hudson; 0-500-28441-5 paperback £24.95. RENFREW & BAHN has been judiciously updated. Systematic, usable and effective, it should continue to thrive. See too RIPPON in 'Britain & Ireland', below. MICHAEL L. GALATY & CHARLES WATKINSON (ed.). Archaeology under dictatorship. x+218 pages, 63 figures, 1 table. 2004. New York (NY): Kluwer Academic/Plenum; 0-306-48508-7 hardback $97. SUSAN KANE (ed.). The politics of archaeology and identity in a global context (Colloquia & Conference Papers 7). ix+171 pages, 30 figures. 2003. Boston (MA): Archaeological Institute of America; 1-931909-04-0 paperback £29.95. IAN HODDER with ÅSA BERGGREN & CRAIG CESSFORD. Archaeology beyond dialogue. vi+208 pages, 28 figures, 4 tables. 2003. Salt Lake City
The English Historical Review, Jun 1, 2020
The 84th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 2019
Aarhus University Press eBooks, Aug 15, 2018
African Archaeological Review, Apr 3, 2023
Cambridge Archaeological Journal, Oct 30, 2019
Against the Grain is an approachable book that explores the world of the earliest states, found i... more Against the Grain is an approachable book that explores the world of the earliest states, found in Mesopotamia. It is framed by the rationale that a study of the state's deep history might give us insight into contemporary concerns via an understanding of the deep causal links between sedentism, agriculture and state control.
Archaeological Prospection
Spatial analysis is paramount for understanding, monitoring, and conserving ancient settlements a... more Spatial analysis is paramount for understanding, monitoring, and conserving ancient settlements and cultural landscapes. Advancing remote sensing and prospection techniques are expanding the methodological frame of archaeological settlement analysis by enabling remote, landscape‐scale approaches to mapping and investigation. Whilst particularly effective in arid lands and areas with sparse or open ground cover, such as vegetation and buildings, these approaches remain peripheral in tropical environments because of technical and contextual challenges. In tropical Eastern Africa, for example, scales, resolution and visibility are often compromised by thick vegetation cover, inadequate access to, if not lack of, imagery resources and technologies, and the availability of comparative archaeological data for interpretation. This paper presents the initial results of spatial analysis, using historic landscape characterisation, remote sensing, published and legacy data, and a pilot ground ...
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Books by Stephanie Wynne-Jones
A timely intervention into archaeological thought, Theory in Africa, Africa in Theory deconstructs the conventional ways we approach the past, positioning the continent within a global theoretical discourse and blending Western and African scholarship. This volume will be a valuable resource for those interested in the archaeology of Africa, as well as providing fresh perspectives to those interested in archaeological theory more generally.
Papers by Stephanie Wynne-Jones
A timely intervention into archaeological thought, Theory in Africa, Africa in Theory deconstructs the conventional ways we approach the past, positioning the continent within a global theoretical discourse and blending Western and African scholarship. This volume will be a valuable resource for those interested in the archaeology of Africa, as well as providing fresh perspectives to those interested in archaeological theory more generally.
structures built of mud or clay degrade quickly after abandonment, leaving almost no traces of human activities behind. This paper presents the results of bulk soil and chemical analyses, artefact distribution, and phytolith analysis from the excavation of a daub house at the early medieval site of Unguja Ukuu (c. 7th–14th c. AD), Zanzibar. High-resolution, systematic sampling for microscopic and elemental analyses proved effective in detecting spatial variability in relatively small areas. However, soil chemical enrichment (e.g. Ca, Mg, Mn, P) usually linked to anthropogenic impact on archaeological deposits appears hardly visible in the Unguja Ukuu house deposits. Instead, measurements of a wider range of elements, including trace and rare earth elements (REEs) proved to be important for detecting elemental signatures related to human activities. Contextual sampling of artefacts and phytoliths were crucial to identify sources of chemical enrichment and, thus, build a picture of spatial organisation within the house. The combined multi-scalar sampling strategy with a multi-proxy analytical approach enabled us to define the layout of the daub structure, indoor/outdoor spaces and activity hot-spots. Although macroscopic traces of past activities were almost completely obliterated, archaeological remains of earthen architecture and the use of space can be detected even in such complex tropical settings.
Papers are welcome on all aspects of the archaeology, material culture and heritage of the Indian Ocean (defined as from East Africa to Japan, including Australasia) from the first millennium BC to the contemporary era, and may include reports on research in progress. Presentations should be in English (unless you are in the special session organised by Derek Kennet and Ran Zhang, which will be in Mandarin) and must not exceed 15 minutes, with a further 5 minutes allowed for questions.
The deadline for submissions is 11th February, and the EAA 2021 conference will take place in Kiel and online between the 8th-11 September 2021. Abstracts up to 300 words should be submitted through EAA 2021 website (https://www.e-a-a.org/eaa2021). For more details please get in touch through [email protected].
13 with sites of the last 1500 years that share common cultural, religious and artistic traditions; no doubt these were maintained by frequent and substantial coastal voyaging. Swahili towns are often described as ports, yet they were more than simply destinations for coastal and international voyagers. The sites of the coast were also home to a diverse group of inhabitants, with a range of relationships with their terrestrial hinterland. This paper explores the role of the sea in this society, not just as a medium for commercial voyaging, but as an ever-present aspect of coastal life. The role of the sea in local economies, diets, and ritual practices will be explored, as well as the ways that coastal sites colonised and domesticated coastal environments.