I explore the relationship between the 19th and 20th century socio-political situation in the Western world and the development of archaeology as an academic discipline. This is a question of key importance in order to understand the reasons behind the acceptance of archaeology as a scientific discipline in contemporary society. I include within this section my article on the development of the theoretical concept of culture in archaeology. Closely related to this line of work is my research into the pace of institutionalisation of archaeology, I have, therefore, included the conference I have recently organised on the subject in this subsection. Complete or virtual absence of women is a common characteristic in all histories of archaeology without exception.
Selection means judgement made under a specific socio-political climate.
We need, therefore, to reflect on what facts have been selected to make women disappear from histories of archaeology. I have also reflected on how and why art and archaeology separated and constituted two different disciplines. I coordinated a session on the history of Iberian archaeology at the September 1999 Congress of Iberian Archaeology. The focal point of my work has been the study of the dynamics of long-term social change. The central element of my work has been the analysis of the dynamics of social change in several distinct areas.