Archaeology and the Multiplicity of Time

This paper explores the impact – or lack thereof – of Koselleck's work on archaeology. It draws parallels between some of the key themes that engaged Koselleck and archaeological work on time, specifically focusing on the notion of temporal multiplicity. It argues that there have been two dominant modes of thinking this multiplicity in archaeology, one that links it to the notion of a vector – rates and direction of change – and the other that links it to the notion of a layer – processes of accumulation and subtraction. The paper explores how these two notions have been articulated in archaeological thought, how they connect to Koselleck's concept of Zeitschichten, and whether they are inherently irreconcilable or not.