New Books in Archaeology Graham Harman and Christopher Witmore, "Objects Untimely: Object-Oriented Philosophy and Archaeology" (Polity Press, 2023)
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Jul 9, 2025 Graham Harman and Christopher Witmore challenge conventional views by asserting that objects, not time, shape reality. They explore alternative conceptions of time and urge us to rethink the modern notion of objects as inert matter. The podcast delves into intersections between archaeology and philosophy, ancient rituals, unique object histories, historical symbiosis, methodological contrasts, and perspectives on WWII POW camps.
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Genesis of the Book
- The book began from a recorded conversation exploring time from philosophy and archaeology perspectives.
- This meeting revealed their shared thesis that objects generate time, inspiring the book's collaboration.
Objects Generate Time
- Objects create time rather than experiencing it from an external flow.
- Time is embedded within objects themselves, each unfolding uniquely according to the object.
Three Conceptions of Time
- Linear time sees objects as remnants of completed past events.
- Topological and percolating time recognize non-linear, folded, and diffused temporal relations among objects.