Internet Archaeol. 16. Rajala. Social epistemology

1.3 Social epistemology

It has been pointed out (e.g. Wheatley and Gillings 2002) that there exists an archaeological GIS community. If a true community exists, one has to discuss the matter from a social epistemology point of view (Audi 1998). This is defined generally as the study of the ways scholars respond as a group to different epistemological questions, within their historical context. Therefore, in archaeology, social epistemology can be seen to study the way GIS practitioners have dealt with different issues related to the nature of GIS data and the results acquired. In later discussions the importance of the temporal and spatial context of research will become clear. As you will see, from the communal point of view epistemological questions are not something to be considered only by marginalised philosophers of archaeology but are crucial questions all GIS practitioners either are or should be asking.