Broken Worlds: Towards an Archaeology of the Shatter Zone

Abstract In recent years, archaeological studies of long-term change and transformation in the human past have often been dominated by discussion dichotomous processes ‘collapse’ ‘resilience’. These discussions are frequently framed relatively narrow terms dictated specialist interests that place an emphasis on role single ‘trigger’ factors as motors for historic change. order to address this issue, article I propose study ‘shatter zone’—a term with origins physical geography geopolitics has more recently harnessed anthropological research—has potential facilitate multi-scalar, interdisciplinary analyses ways which major historical changes unfold across both space time, at local, regional, inter-regional levels. This unpacks concept shatter zone aligns existing frameworks adaptive then situate these arguments within context colonial interaction conflict Eastern Woodlands North America during sixteenth eighteenth century. The demonstrates how a regulated approach yield new insights populations mitigate react instability while also facilitating comparative broader, global scale.