Description
The Mirror in the Ground: Archaeology, Photography and the Making of a Disciplinary Archive by Nick Shepherd explores the intersection of archaeology and visual culture, examining how photography has shaped the study and interpretation of material cultures, objectified bodies, and archaeological sites. Drawing on the archive of South African archaeologist John Goodwin (1900–1959), Shepherd interrogates the ways images contributed to the construction of archaeology as a formal discipline and asks whether a distinct archaeological aesthetic can be identified. The book considers how local histories of seeing and documenting objects and landscapes have influenced the ways knowledge is produced and recorded.
By combining critical analysis of photographs with historical reflection, it offers insights into the role of visuality in archaeological practice, making it a valuable resource for scholars, students, and readers interested in archaeology, material culture, and the history of science.
