Make new things but keep the old: Imitation, innovation and the communication of new ideas

Catherine Frieman

doi:10.17169/refubium-30857

Make new things but keep the old: Imitation, innovation and the communication of new ideas

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Abstract

Innovation and innovativeness are key themes in contemporary social science research; but, in general, archaeology has not engaged with this wider debate in a systematic way. Our focus on the oldest and earliest objects, technologies and practices obscures the underlying social process that allows new ideas and novel technologies to be widely adopted. This paper builds on the anthropological and sociological literature around the process of innovation to demonstrate the ways archaeologies of innovation can be more nuanced. Through the case study of Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age flint daggers, I demonstrate that even with the limited data available to archaeologists, the slow process of adoption and operationalisation of innovations can be charted and examined.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Contextualising Ancient Technology: From Archaeological Case Studies Towards a Social Theory of Ancient Innovation Processes
Editors	F. Klimscha, S. Hansen & J. Renn
Place of Publication	Berlin
Publisher	Edition Topoi
Pages	123-136
Volume	1
ISBN (Print)	978-3-9820670-9-4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.17169/refubium-30857
Publication status	Published - 2021

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10.17169/refubium-30857

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Make new things but keep the old: Imitation, innovation and the communication of new ideas. / Frieman, Catherine.
Contextualising Ancient Technology: From Archaeological Case Studies Towards a Social Theory of Ancient Innovation Processes. ed. / F. Klimscha, S. Hansen & J. Renn. Vol. 1 Berlin: Edition Topoi, 2021. p. 123-136.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

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Make new things but keep the old: Imitation, innovation and the communication of new ideas

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