Themes and Models in the Development of Italian Prehistory

Authors

  • Helen L. Loney University of Glasgow

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/jmea.v15i2.199

Keywords:

Italian prehistory, Luigi Pigorini, fascism, Marxism

Abstract

Italian prehistory, its theory and methodology, developed during the 19th-century unification of Italy. Initially embracing the natural sciences, it became wedded to a culture-historical paradigm, strengthened by the philosopher Croce. In addition, the strong central figure of Luigi Pigorini, the first prehistorian of the modern world, molded a conservative, homogenous view of the development of Italian prehistory, which rejected evolution. After Pigorini's death, and the fall of Fascism, other viewpoints such as Marxism revitalized the discipline. The strong left-wing Marxist perspective, however, along with a previous tradition of scientific methodology, meant that Italian mainstream prehistorians did not accept the processual paradigm. Currently, the post-processualist critique is enjoying greater success, mainly because of the influence of French Structuralists, and because of the strong culture-historical paradigm which most modern Italian prehistorians follow.

Author Biography

  • Helen L. Loney, University of Glasgow
    Helen received her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. She is lecturer in archaeology in Scottish Studies at the University of Glasgow. Crichton Campus.

Published

2003-03-01

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Loney, H. L. (2003). Themes and Models in the Development of Italian Prehistory. Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology, 15(2), 199-215. https://doi.org/10.1558/jmea.v15i2.199