Epistemics: introduction

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The epistemic framework

The epistemic aspect of archaeological field work relates to the way in which data are acquired and defined within a coherent explanatory system, and are then integrated into a larger frame of reference. We may look at this from three parallel points of view and we will organize the material accordingly.

1. Context refers to the way in which data occur physically, in the ground or otherwise.
2. Method refers to the type of analysis that is brought to bear on the data.
3. Sub-system refers to the specific categories used, within the broader System

Here is an overview of the entire framework, which will be discussed in some detail below.

	context	method	sub-system
1	matrix	aggregation	stratigraphy
2	assemblage	structuring	typology
			integrative
3	selected whole	restructuring	conservation
			presentation

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Theory and its implementation

The theoretical framework I have described is closely reflected in the digital unit books. The two images on the right show how the unit books mirror the theoretical scheme of the Grammar: the Grammar displays the description of the data in terms of the method the unit book displays the data in terms of the system      In other words, the Grammar sidebar highights the theoretical orientation that governs the system, as explained above.      The A16 unit book sidebar is in the section on Overviews within the Synthetic section, and it highlights the orientation one would expect when dealing with the materials from the excavation.

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References

Miera 2023