Renfrew: Narrative-Processual Archaeology

Processual archaeology developed from the corrections of New Archaeology. The incorporation of new technologies and the scientific method is a major aspect of New Archaeology. Adjustments made by Binford would develop New Archaeology into processual archaeology. Advances of processual archaeology are made by Binford’s students, notably Renfrew. He would revise processual archaeology and convert it into cognitive-processual archaeology. Trigger describes post-processual archaeology as the concept of cross-cultural variation in belief and behavior through the individual. Post-processual archaeology takes elements from both Marxist and postmodernist views to convey a different method of interpreting archaeological data from the processual view.

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He believes the main characteristic of processual archaeology is the positivist stance. Although he agreed with neoevolutionism and systems theory, he understood the limitations that follow. Since Renfrew looks at the social significance instead of the cultural. Renfrew contributed strong studies of the evolution of social and political organization. His neoevolutionary view created a difference between small group tribes to large chiefdoms. Renfrew uses the scientific method and analysis to construct qualitative archaeological data. As Renfrew would shift his interests studying human behavior instead of social tendencies, he would bring his use of the scientific method. This approach would develop into another form of processual archaeology, known as cognitive-processual archaeology. Processual Archaeology led by the successors of Binford would continue materialistic and positivist roles. They would also adhere to the scientific method and strive for objectivity. Adaptation of social sciences and anthropological theories would create clear theoretical boundaries, distinguishing it from other archaeological