Uncovering Knowledge: An Analysis of the Production of Archaeological Knowledge

Abstract

This thesis looks to address how archaeological knowledge is produced by looking at data gathered through eighteen semi-structured interviews with participants of the Mountain Project, an archaeological dig in Greece that is co-led by Greek and American institutions. The interests of this paper are the ways in which formal organizational order is maintained within projects that demonstrate characteristics of temporary (Bechky 2006) and total (Goffman 1961) institutions. This is important given the way in which informal social mechanisms can interfere with the production of scientific knowledge. This research has concluded that loose coupling between formal and informal organizational processes is maintained through (1)actively maintaining and performing formal, occupation-based organizational hierarchy (2) spatial differentiation and compartmentalization and (3) reaffirming occupational membership, which allowed archaeological knowledge to be produced with few interferences from informal social order.