Internet Archaeol. 16. Whitley. Conclusions

5.0 Conclusions

To summarise the foregoing arguments, we need to consider the nature of human cognition on many different levels. From a theoretical standpoint, the goal of all archaeology is to enhance our understanding of past human societies. This encompasses a great deal of variation in analytical subjects, theoretical perspectives, and research objectives, but ultimately it is reliant on a common definition of understanding; that enlightenment comes through explanation. Whether we choose one particular model of explanation or not, the merit of an argument will always be based on its acceptance by peer consensus.

The trajectories taken by GIS research tend to reflect the unique archaeological components, funding sources, and distinctive peer groups on opposite sides of the Atlantic. With some creative thought and the adoption of additional ideas from other disciplines (such as Social Geography, and the Philosophy of Science) we may be able to enhance both major trajectories by providing those aspects which are lacking most – agency and causality. To assess cognitive behaviour specifically we need to employ proxy variables which build causal explanations between our archaeological observations and human behaviour. This is most easily done in a GIS with combinations of measurable spatial variables representing those which are immeasurable.