Michael Shanks ~ archaeologist

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loss and history’s physiognomy

September 3, 2004February 26, 2025 by Michael Shanks

An elegy for the UK countryside Item in the BBC Magazine. Half a century ago, probably even in the last two or three decades, the UK countryside had a definite purpose. It was essential to the entire country, because it was where much of our food was produced, which meant employment. Today we depend on…

cupboard under the stairs

September 1, 2004February 26, 2025 by Michael Shanks

more of the abandoned apartment in San Jose [Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]

the look of history – New York after 9/11

September 1, 2004February 26, 2025 by Michael Shanks

So just as I was finishing my short comment today about images and the physiognomy of history [Link] under the question – what does historical change look like? Al Bergesen (in Tucson) sent me this picture of the New York Skyline … my son is a photographer and took the attached image of the NY…

Cuba – on the verge – the physiognomy of historical change

September 1, 2004February 26, 2025 by Michael Shanks

Meg’s comments on the photos of the apartment in San Jose, and her story of small town America were about the way everyday things can be almost too painful, too intimate – because of their personal associations yes, but, also because of their attachment to temporal loss. It makes us think of how we look…

needing an archaeological view of innovation

August 30, 2004February 26, 2025 by Michael Shanks

BBC NEWS | Technology | Peering beyond the technology hype Interesting item in the BBC Magazine today on innovation and hype. It is extremely difficult to predict which technologies will become part of everyday life in the future. Some of the best known innovations, like the net, have swiftly become part of the furniture for…

archaeological intimacy – on looking at everyday things

August 28, 2004 by Michael Shanks

Meg Butler left a wonderful story as comment on the photos of the apartment in San Jose. Both the pictures and your comments remind me of a small town in Texas that I visited. My first impression was of a dying town. It isn’t on a main highway or interstate, it isn’t touristy in any…

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About this site

Exploring the archaeological imagination – to gain a bigger picture on things that matter.

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Lab/studio: [Link]

Contact

michaelshanks @ me.com

mshanks @ stanford . edu

1 650 996 8763

Recent Posts

  • Creative Pragmatics
  • Colin Renfrew, Mark Leone, John Barrett — passing through archaeology
  • Applied Archaeology — Applied Humanities
  • ghost in the mirror
  • A day for Chris Tilley: reflections on the performance of academic life

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