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Abstract

Studying Archeology needs an understanding of the idea of progress. The concept of progress was popular in the 1920s, and it was not for Archeology alone, but it became a new intellectual understanding of the world. “The idea of progress is one of the fundamental notions grappled by civilizations with a historical sense“. “Does this change in the use of metals equal development?,” reminds us to the Xuanyuan era where stone was used to make weapon, whereas jade in the time of Huangdi, and bronze in the time of Yu. This shows that Archeology is related to history and some social institutions, besides applying biochemical analysis to an artifact. As an example of a multi disciplinary archeological research was found in the hypothesis of Why the West rules – for now, by Ian Morris, 2010, which states that the Mediterranean region has the most advanced economic achievement compared to the other regions. The conclusion of which was drawn from analysis of shipwrecks in the Mediterranean ocean and the level of lead in the soil. The concept of progress in this case was the implication of a synthesis contributed from the perspective of several disciplines, or consilience. Thus, the artifacts of the past should be interpreted contextually, and so were the present materials. The values of which will have never been lesser or better in the light of progress.

Bahasa Abstract

Mempelajari Arkeologi sangat erat hubungannya dengan mempelajari pemikiran mengenai “progres”. Konsep tentang “progres” ini sebuah pemikiran yang popular pada tahun 1920-an, tidak saja berlaku bagi ilmu Arkeologi, tetapi untuk pengertian mengenai perkembangan intelektual masyarakat di dunia. Pemikiran mengenai “progres“ adalah salah satu pemikiran fundamental yang berkaitan erat dengan peradaban-peradaban yang dimengerti dalam konteks sejarah. “Apakah pemakaian bahan metal menunjukkan suatu kemajuan?,” mengingat bahwa pada zaman Xuanyuan, senjata dibuat dari batu, kemudian batu giok di zaman Huangdi, dan perunggu di zaman Yu. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa Arkeologi berhubungan dengan pengetahuan kesejarahan dan pranata-pranata sosial, selain mengaplikasikan analisis biokimia pada suatu artefak. Sebagai suatu contoh tentang sebuah penelitian multi disiplin dalam Arkeologi didapat pada hipotesis buku Why the West rules-for now, karya Ian Morris, 2010, yaitu bahwa wilayah Mediterania pada abad pertama mengalami kemajuan ekonomi yang tertinggi dibandingkan dengan wilayah2 lainnya. Kesimpulan ini diperoleh karena menganalisis bekas2 kapal yang tenggelam di lautan Mediterania dan tingkat lapisan timbel di tanah. Pemikiran mengenai “progres” disini adalah penarikan sintesis dari perspektif berbagai ilmu, yang disebut consilience. Dengan demikian, karya masa yang silam dimengerti dalam konteksnya. Begitu pula karya pada masa sekarang tidak mengurangi nilainya atau bertambah nilainya dalam konteks “progres”.

References

Ceram, C.W. Gods, Graves and Scholars: The Story of Archaeology. London: Phoenix Press. English edition 2001/1971, revised from 1952 original.

Iggers, George G. “The Idea of Progress: A Critical Reassessment,” American Historical Review, Vol. 71. 1965.

Morris, Ian. Why the West Rules—For Now: The Patterns of History and What They Reveal About the Future. New York: Picador. 2010.

Painter, George S. “The Idea of Progress,” The American Journal of Sociology, Vol. XXVIII. 1922.

Schnapp, Alain. The Discovery of the Past, London: British Museum Press. English edition 1996, French original 1993.

Spencer, Herbert. “Progress its Laws and Causes,” taken from the Internet History Sourcebook. Fordham University. 1857.

Wagar, W. Warren. Good Tidings: The Belief in Progress from Darwin to Marcuse. Bloomington, IN, University of Indiana Press. 1972.

Wright, Ronald. An Illustrated Short History of Progress. Toronto ON: Anasi Press. 2006.

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