On the status of archaeology as a historical science (key aspects in a multidisciplinary context)

Abstract

As we know, archaeology has transitioned quite a long and thorny path to an academic discipline with its source base, methodology, method, and other inherent attributes of a full-fledged scientific unit. Archaeology is no exception – now, in the academic environment of the archaeological world, the question of revising the place of archaeology in the science system is increasingly being raised, or at least determining an archaeology clear stance in the circle of historical science, up to its separation into an independent unit. In this regard, the aspect of the perception and interpretation of archaeology by the mother science now – history - is also of no small importance. In the article presented to attention, an attempt is made to analyze the key points of a possible paradigm shift and an attempt is made to determine the relationship of historical science to archaeology in the context of assessing its separation probability. The main difference in the treatment of the latter aspect is that, in addition to archaeologists' scientific opinions, representatives' views of historical science themselves are considered, including from the standpoint of possible rejection of archeology on its part due to potential disagreements in the above-mentioned cornerstone scientific aspects. The authors present their own perspective on archaeology's place within the historical disciplines, concluding, among other things, that it is necessary to develop theoretical and methodological developments that consider regional and other characteristics of a particular geographical area, country, etc.