Conclusion: Towards Mentalising Archaeology: Attachment Bonds and Loneliness

The chapters contained within this volume contain a wealth of evidence which, together, attest to the complexity and variety of human social bonds and attachments. In this chapter, we draw together the many themes introduced in this volume and seek to further explore the applicability of attachment theory and attachment thinking in archaeology. We consider themes such as continuity and cultural aspects of attachments, bonds with animals, visual representations, handicrafts, and loneliness. Drawing on our own experiences, too, we emphasise the importance of emotion in our lives both today and in those of the past, and the difficulty and yet value in considering the mental and emotional states of people both in the past and present.