Direct historical approach
Encyclopedia
The direct historical approach was an archaeological
and anthropological
technique developed and promoted by such American scholars as William Duncan Strong
, Waldo Wedel, and others during the 1920s and 1930s.
Proponents of the methodology argued that one could extrapolate backwards in time from known historical periods into prehistory. By studying a site with known historical occupations and then excavating it to establish prehistoric activity, it was reasoned that by using analogy
and homology
based on the historical data, theories could be postulated about the past society that had used the site long before the historical records were made.
The approach works well where continuity can be demonstrated but is less useful in regions where significant differences between prehistoric and historic societies are known.
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
and anthropological
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
technique developed and promoted by such American scholars as William Duncan Strong
William Duncan Strong
William Duncan Strong was an American archaeologist and anthropologist noted for his application of the direct historical approach to the study of indigenous peoples of North and South America....
, Waldo Wedel, and others during the 1920s and 1930s.
Proponents of the methodology argued that one could extrapolate backwards in time from known historical periods into prehistory. By studying a site with known historical occupations and then excavating it to establish prehistoric activity, it was reasoned that by using analogy
Analogy
Analogy is a cognitive process of transferring information or meaning from a particular subject to another particular subject , and a linguistic expression corresponding to such a process...
and homology
Homology (anthropology)
In anthropology and archaeology, homology is a type of analogy whereby two human beliefs, practices or artifacts are separated by time but share similarities due to genetic or historical connections...
based on the historical data, theories could be postulated about the past society that had used the site long before the historical records were made.
The approach works well where continuity can be demonstrated but is less useful in regions where significant differences between prehistoric and historic societies are known.