Metodologisk partikularism i den postkoloniala bronsåldersdiskursen

Sammendrag

Methodological particularism in the postcolonial Bronze
Age discourse. Over the past few years Bronze Age research
has witnessed an unfortunate separation between large-scale
and small-scale studies. This separation is maintained by a
forceful critique of the ethical and political consequences
of large-scale perspectives, grand narratives and a pan-European identity in the making.
By profound influence from postcolonialism and related ideologies, this critique
represents a discourse that strives instead to construct
alternative small-scale methodologies. In order to develop
new ethical perspectives and methodological approaches
aiming to integrate different scale levels, I believe that
critical examinations of small-scale perspectives and their
archaeological influence are required.
By inspiration from the concept methodological
particularism, I will discuss some problems with the
contemporary ideological-political and methodological
critique of large-scale studies. I will furthermore highlight
narrative aspects of small-scale studies put forward in regard
to Scandinavian source materials. I argue that small-scale
studies, to the same degree as large-scale studies, have
created a tale of Bronze Age society and cosmology which
affect research results and preferred interpretations. This
story is, in short, about local identities in tribal societies, with shaman rituals and life-course practices at different
meeting places in the landscape. As a closing reflection,
it is proposed that cosmopolitanism could be used as an
alternative ideological driving force when developing
integrated studies in the future.