Yannis Hamilakis engages critically with past and present material culture through an anthropologically informed lens, emphasizing the interdisciplinary nature of archaeology. He recognizes archaeology as a product of Western modernity, yet also sees its potential for a reflexive, experiential encounter with the material world. Hamilakis advocates for a politically committed archaeological and academic practice dedicated to social justice, exploring themes like the archaeology of the senses, eating and drinking, and the socio-politics of the past.
This book is an exciting new look at how archaeology has dealt with the bodily senses and offers an argument for how the discipline can offer a richer glimpse into the human sensory experience. Yannis Hamilakis proposes a novel framework for understanding the bodily senses and their interaction with things and environments.