ABSTRACT
All people classify because doing so is necessary for abstract thought and language. But everyday classes are not often best for archaeological purposes. In our daily life we habitually use classification as a tool for our lifestyle. However, just like using a computer, classification should be a servant rather than a master. Sometimes our classifications of good and bad-those based on color of skin or on our definitions of what is moral or immoral-are made and then adhered to as binding principles of life without ever being questioned or modified, no matter how much our circumstances may change. The dogmatism and rigidity that result from these attitudes are as dangerous in archaeology as they are in daily life. In archaeology, classification is a research tool, a means for ordering data (see Doing Archaeology Box).
