An Archaeology of Skill

An Archaeology of Skill identifies skill as the linchpin of – and missing link between – studies on craft, creativity, innovation, and material culture. Through a detailed study of early bronze age axes the book explores what it involves to be skilled, providing an evidence based argument about levels of skill. _x005F_x000D_ _x005F_x000D_ The ideas developed here relate to the emerging trend of ‘material thinking’ in social sciences. At the same time, it looks towards and augments the development in craft-studies, recognising the many different aspects of craft in contemporary and past societies. Drawing together these two distinct fields will stimulate (re)thinking of how to integrate production with discussions of other aspects of object biographies, and link arguments about value to social models.