Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (417 page)

A body of thought deriving its main elements from Marx's political and economic theories, notably the idea that change in a society is seen as the result of contradictions arising between the forces of production (technology) and the relations of production (social organization). Such contradictions are seen to emerge as a struggle between distinct social classes. Using these theories Marx predicted the overthrow of capitalism and common ownership of the means of production in a classless society.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

An approach to archaeological interpretation and explanation that draws on the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels to explore materialist models of social change and the central questions of social relations. Understanding who has power, and how that power is exercised, are seen as vital elements in explaining social change. Marxists regard each human society as defined and shaped by its ‘mode of production’, which comprises both the ‘forces of production’ (i.e. science, technology, and all other human and natural resources), and the ‘relations of production’ (i.e. the ways in which people relate to one another in order to facilitate the production and distribution of goods). Social organization and change are seen in terms of conflicts between segments of society: for example, those based on class, sex, or age. Among western archaeologists one of the first to draw heavily on Marxist theory was Gordon Childe who emphasized the forces of production as being fundamental influences on prehistoric economies, societies, and ideologies. In many of his early works he effectively challenged the fascist German-based views of prehistory current at the time.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Queen of Scotland of the House of Stewart. Born 1542, daughter of James V and Mary of Guise. She married (1) the dauphin, afterwards Francis II of France, (2) Henry Stewart , Lord Darnley, (3) James Hepburn , earl of Bothwell. She abdicated in 1567 and was held prisoner in England from 1568, where she was executed in 1587, having reigned 24 years.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

English queen from ad 1553, of the House of Tudor. Born 1516, the daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, she married Philip II of Spain. She died in ad 1558 aged 42, having reigned five years.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Queen of England from ad 1689, of the House of Stuart. Born 1662, elder daughter of James II and Anne Hyde . Ruled with her husband the Dutch Protestant William III (of Orange). As daughter of the Catholic James II, she was invited to succeed after the expulsion of her father and the revolution of ad 1688. She died in ad 1694 aged 32, having reigned five years.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

A Tudor warship, flagship of Henry VIII's fleet which sank in the Solent off Portsmouth on its maiden voyage on the warm sunny afternoon of Sunday 19 July 1545. The site of the wreck was discovered in 1966 by Alexander McKee and Margaret Rule who carefully excavated and recorded it in what became one of the largest underwater archaeology projects ever undertaken. The remains of the hull of the ship were finally raised on 11 October 1982 with live television coverage. Since then it has been undergoing conservation treatment in a specially constructed museum in Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK. The finds from the ship, including the skeletons of many of the 700 hands that went down with her, provide a unique microcosm of material culture relating to navy life in mid 16th-century
ad
Britain.
[Sum.: M. Rule , 1982,
The Mary Rose: the excavation and raising of Henry VIII's flagship
. London: Conway Maritime Press]

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search