Regional History and Archaeology: Exploring Theoretical and Practical Pathways for Their Incorporation

Abstract

It is not recent that archaeological description becomes the first chapter of local history. On the other hand, archaeologists have rigorously participated in the projects utilizing historical materials, which have been spurred by flourishing local autonomy. Nevertheless, we cannot find apparent evidence that the archaeologists participated in the discussion of local/regional history since about 2000. This discrepancy is likely to bring archaeology’s maladaptation. Feeling uncomfortable to that, I attempt at seeking for possibility and practical pathways to take part in current local/regional history discussion. It includes some theme that Korean archaeology has not been interested in, but it is necessary for incorporation with lcoal/regional history, such as ①center and peripheries, ②local perspectives, ③bottom-up approaches and microscopic perspectives, ④floating concept of community, ⑤social actors in the frontier, and ⑥colonial encounter. Furthermore, I look at some problem likely to be encountered if we would not consider in participating in theoretical discussion and project relevant to local/regional history: regional supremacism, invented tradition and history education without nationality.