Atalay, S. (2006). Indigenous archaeology as decolonizing practice. The American Indian
Quarterly, 30(3/4), 280-310.
Five key words:
1. Archaeology
2. Colonization
3. Decolonization
4. Culture
5. Collaboration
Explanatory Summary:
Dr. Sonya Atalay is a professor of Archaeology at the University of
Massachusetts. Her article about Indigenous archaeology, mostly focuses on colonization
of archaeological practices and the Westerners effects on it and ways to decolonize these
practices. In The American Indian Quarterly, Atalay begins her article with defining
Archaeology. Next, she talks about the Western effect on the Archaeology studies and how
they represent the Western culture and values instead of values of those who are being studied.
Atalay also mentions the ability of Indigenous peoples in both adapting to and protecting their
history and heritage from Western cultural practices. Next, Atalay talks about the importance
of decolonizing archaeology and that we can reach this goal by respecting ethical and moral
manners in archaeological research. In the article, Atalay mentions that the power of
Westerners in studying not only their own ancestors but also the ones of others, just to satisfy
their own personal curiosity, is a sign of excluding Native peoples from the audience of
archaeological research. Indigenous peoples fighting this manner and protesting against
