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Journal of Social Archaeology ARTICLE
Copyright © 2003 SAGE Publications (www.sagepublications.com) Vol 3(3): 353–365 [1469-6053(200310)3:3;353–365;034877]
Cultural property and culture theory
RICHARD HANDLER Department of Anthropology,University of Virginia,USA
ABSTRACT Recent work in culture theory has mounted a decisive critique of the reifying tendencies that have been inherent in anthropologists’ use of the culture concept. At the same time, cultural-property legislation has proliferated around the globe, leading, ironically, to a bureau- cratic celebration of precisely those aspects of culture theory that many anthropologists now mistrust. This article reviews some of the reifying assumptions built in to the notion of cultural property, and examines two historical cases, one at the dawn of the nationalist era, the other at the end of the twentieth century.
KEYWORDS cultural property culture theory historic preservation inven- tion of culture objectification of culture