Lewis Binford 1930–2011

Lewis Binford died on Monday, an inspiring, bear of a man and without doubt the most influential world archaeologist of his times, not least here in the UK where amongst others Colin Renfrew encouraged us all to engage with his ideas: my photo shows Lew (on the left) and Colin (in cloth cap) at Stonehenge in 1981. Archaeological theory is drifting and needs to reaffirm its roots. Revisiting Binford’s work would be a great way to start, and with so many owing him so much I should think that’s almost bound to happen.

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