Tracing Theoretical Trends in Pakistani Archaeology

Abstract

This article attempts to bring to the fore an important issue in relation to the history and practice of archaeology in Pakistan. It deals with theory in archaeology. Theoretical considerations in archaeology the world over nowadays are considered crucial for the growth of the discipline. In Pakistan, however, there is a sheer lack of tendency in terms of theoretical archaeology. There was, nevertheless, one exception, Professor Ahmad Hasan Dani. Dani was a famous Pakistani archaeologist and historian of the later twentieth century. His political concerns along with his training in the field of archaeology during the last few years of British India made him inclined to models of migrations and diffusion. In this sense, he used the culture-historical archaeology paradigm in his research and scholarly works. This study explains theory in archaeology which is followed by an illustration of Dani as being a culture-historical archaeologist.