- Leading international scholars bring together many different approaches to material culture studies, in the USA, in Europe, and beyond
- Presents overviews of the study of material culture from diverse disciplinary perspectives, especially archaeology and anthropology
- Rich case studies, well illustrated, will stimulate both teaching and further enquiry
- Comprehensive and up-to-date bibliography - an invaluable resource for all students and researchers
The Oxford Handbook of Material Culture Studies introduces and reviews current thinking in the interdisciplinary field of material culture studies. Drawing together approaches from archaeology, anthropology, geography, and Science and Technology Studies, through twenty-eight specially commissioned essays by leading international researchers, the volume explores contemporary issues and debates in a series of themed sections - Disciplinary Perspectives, Material Practices, Objects and Humans, Landscapes and the Built Environment, and Studying Particular Things. From Coca-Cola, chimpanzees, artworks, and ceramics, to museums, cities, human bodies, and magical objects, the Handbook is an essential resource for anyone with an interest in materiality and the place of material objects in human social life, both past and present. A comprehensive bibliography enhances its usefulness as a research tool