A return to the dark ages? Reply to Thornton et al. 2010

Nissim Amzallag

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

A synthetic theory pointing out the central importance of metallurgy in the emergence of Bronze Age civilizations was recently published in the AJA ("From Metallurgy to Bronze Age Civilizations: The Synthetic Theory" [2009] 497-519). In reaction, six well-known authors (Christopher Thornton, Jonathan Golden, David Killick, Vincent Pigott, Thilo Rehren, and Benjamin Roberts) have written a rebuttal devoted mainly to defending the current localizationist paradigm challenged by the synthetic theory. In this reply, the epistemological nature of localizationism and its position regarding scientific theories is considered first, then three critical points underlying the synthetic theory are discussed: (1) the external mode of crucible heating, (2) the incompatibility of crucible and furnace smelting, and (3) the prevalence of southern Canaan in the emergence of furnace metallurgy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)317-329
Number of pages13
JournalAmerican Journal of Archaeology
Volume114
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2010

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Archaeology
  • Archaeology

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