Are Postcolonial Narratives useful in Al-Andalus Archaeology?.
Guillermo García Contreras
Archaeological investigations of al-Andalus has become increasingly important in medieval studies, but it traditionally been left out the research agenda European archaeology. This is due to its exoticism and not fitting well with construction a identity Spanish national history based on Christian expansion “Reconquest” process. At same time, geographical location geopolitical position Iberian Peninsula within “West”, scholars working Islamic archaeology have dedicated less attention than other territories. Several factors pose challenge for current research: possibility confrontation feudal societies; increasing importance given technological transfer all along al-Andalus; religious, economic institutional differences territories; recent years alterity; strong impact that Andalusi period had creation landscapes, especially irrigated agriculture. paper tries reflect analyze historiographical marginality both The aim understand how we built an international narrative territory theoretically outside Europe environment which classical Islam developed, mainly literature produced English this matter. In short, poses question whether postcolonial theory valid category analysis al-Andalus.
Anduli|Institutional Repository of the University of Granada (University of Granada)