This special issue explores the complex question: What does it mean to talk about identity in the context of subjects shaped by mobility, and what insights can archaeology provide that other fields may overlook? This inquiry lies at the heart of both archaeology and historical archaeology, which have long grappled with the diverse mobilities and identities reflected in the archaeological record. As this issue demonstrates, these studies are more than just academic exercises—they respond to contemporary global debates on migration, where material evidence is often politicized to construct “others.” The papers demonstrate how mobility, enacted across various scales, reshapes geographies and reveals the frictions experienced by past subjects. This approach moves beyond mere recovery of individual experiences to interrogate the ideological structures that legitimize social hierarchies. By focusing on the variety of past human mobilities and their material legacies, the authors suggest that archaeology can contribute significantly to understanding migration as a complex driver of human history. Ultimately, this collection highlights the need to explore how these intellectual practices intersect with global inequalities in wealth and risk-free mobility between the global north and south.

中文翻译：

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恢复实质性的流动性景观：Hauser 评论道：“从考古学上看移民和侨民社区


本期特刊探讨了一个复杂的问题：在流动性塑造的主题背景下谈论身份意味着什么，考古学可以提供哪些其他领域可能会忽视的见解？这种探究是考古学和历史考古学的核心，它们长期以来一直在努力解决考古记录中反映的各种流动性和身份。正如本期所表明的，这些研究不仅仅是学术练习——它们回应了当代全球关于移民的辩论，其中物质证据经常被政治化以构建“他人”。这些论文展示了在不同尺度上实施的流动性如何重塑地理区域，并揭示了过去主题所经历的摩擦。这种方法超越了单纯的恢复个人经验，而是质疑使社会等级合法化的意识形态结构。通过关注过去人类流动性的多样性及其物质遗产，作者认为考古学可以极大地有助于理解移民作为人类历史的复杂驱动力。最终，该系列强调了探索这些知识实践如何与全球财富不平等和全球南北方之间无风险流动相交的必要性。