Archaeological theory and scientific practice Contemporary archaeology is polarised between scientists who analyse classify and describe and social theorists influenced by sociologies of science and culture theory. By emphasising the process of interpretation this book shows that there is no necessary conflict between the aims and procedures of the various factions Cover; Half title; Series title; Copyright; Title; Contents; Illustrations; Tables; Preface; Acknowledgements; 1 The archaeology of two cultures; 2 Science as culture: creating interpretative networks; 3 Archaeology observed; 4 Materials science and material culture: practice scale and narrative; 5 Material culture and materials science: a biography of things; 6 A biography of ceramics in Neolithic Orkney; 7 Making people and things in the Neolithic: pots food and history; 8 Before and after science; References; Index.