Reassessing the Philosophy of Archaeology Through Ontological and Ethico-Political Perspectives

Abstract

This article examines the philosophy of archaeology from ontological and ethico-political perspectives within an interdisciplinary framework. It emphasizes that archaeology is not merely a discipline that collects material data about the past, but also a theoretically grounded intellectual activity operating along the axes of being, knowledge, value, and action. Under the heading of ontology, the article addresses questions concerning the nature of archaeological objects and relations, exploring key approaches such as symmetrical archaeology, assemblage archaeology, and relational archaeology. It analyzes the connections between these approaches and non-anthropocentric ontologies, as well as the role of non-human actors in archaeological narratives. In the ethico-political section, the production of archaeological knowledge—by whom, how, and within which value frameworks—is critically questioned; themes such as political instrumentalization, cultural representation, and social justice are discussed through the lenses of Marxist, feminist, and anti-colonial archaeologies. The article argues that the ontological and ethico-political dimensions are not merely theoretical concerns but are constitutive elements that shape archaeological practice. In conclusion, it posits that the philosophy of archaeology is a critical intellectual domain for understanding the nature of our relationship with the past and how this relationship functions in the contemporary world.