Journal of the Faculty of Humanities and Human Sciences;Volume 15

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Reflections on Ethnographic Methods Training at an Archaeological Field School : A Case Study from Rebun International Field School in Japan

GOMES, Amanda;KONDO, Shiaki

Permalink : http://hdl.handle.net/2115/77523
JaLCDOI : 10.14943/jgsl.15.49
KEYWORDS : ethnography;archaeology;field school;archaeological training;ethnographic methods;Hokkaido;Japan

Abstract

In this paper we will investigate the introduction of ethnographic research and methods to the excavation and field school operated at the Hamanaka 2 site on Rebun, Japan. Through this case study, we explore the relationship between the interpretive frameworks, research methods, and the field training. We discuss the outcomes of introducing an ethnographic component to an archaeological field school, including some of the challenges that have arisen during this process. In response to this, we also provide a series of suggestions for further development and research concerning this model of training. While the process of including ethnography within the field school is ongoing, we hope that this paper will add to the growing literature on ethnography as a tools for archaeologists within Japan and prompt additional research on archaeological training in Japan in the future.

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