Attaining the full potential of historical archaeology

Historical archaeology is not adrift; rather through the collective contrib utions of generations of dedicated scholars it has matured into an inclusiv e discipline that seeks solutions to a wide range of problems regarding pas t peoples and their cultural expressions. While it is appropriate to seek t o understand cultural regularities we must also explore the rich texture of variations expressed in the material patterns left behind. I agree with Ch arles E. Cleland's that new and rigorous methodologies must develop in orde r for historical archaeology to reach its potential. We need not constrain our creativity, nor the potential of thorough utilization of archival sourc es, by limiting ourselves to the construction of oppositions between the hi storical and archaeological record. Rather, our models should embrace an ex amination, and testing, of questions derived from the intersection of both sources of information. The full engagement of both history and archaeology in the framing of questions will lead to a more complete understanding of the dynamic nature of cultural expressions recoverable through archaeologic al inquiry.