Speaker: Tim Gill, Research Associate, Archaeological Research Facility
Abstract: People tend to talk about the “meaning” of objects and events in everyday life, and this tendency extends to inquiries regarding the imagery of the European Ice Age. “What does cave art mean?” is a common question. Archaeologists also refer to “meaning” with great regularity, but they rarely attempt to define what “meaning” is.
In this talk I would like to examine the concept of “meaning” as it is applied to the imagery and representations of the European Ice Age, discussing “the meaning of meaning,” and proposing one approach we might take in thinking about “meaning” in our work. I will draw on pragmatist philosophy and theories of cognitive science in addition to archaeological materials.