ABSTRACT
In a recent series of publications Richard Gould (1971, 1974, 1977, 1978a, 1978b, 1980a) has presented his views on what he considers the major problems of contemporary archaeology. He has offered suggestions as to how these might be solved. His efforts have received mixed responses within the field.
Gould crafts a persuasive alternative to explanation by direct analogy. In so doing, he renounces several propositions fundamental to modern archaeology. . . . Serious doubt is cast upon the pervasive assumption that archaeological sites represent fossilized human behavior.. . . He cautions against uncritical applications of the principle of uniformitarianism, which is more appropriate to the physical sciences than to archaeology but which is a central assumption in the use of argument by direct analogy. . . . . Living archaeology is among the more profound statements on archaeological theory and practice to appear in recent years. (McIntosh 1980:117–118; emphasis added)
