How does technology empower new paradigms in humanities and social science:a case study of archaeological science

This study examines the logical pathways through which technology drives paradigm transformation in humanities and social sciences, using archaeological science as an empirical case. The institutionalization of archaeological science has progressed through four developmental phases: emergence, consolidation, systematization,and maturation. This evolution transitioned from initial adoption of isolated techniques to an integrated disciplinary paradigm combining multiple technologies, culminating in its formal establishment as a sub-discipline that secured academic legitimacy. Our analysis reveals a dual logic underpinning technological empowerment: 1) Longitudinal progression through technological breakthroughs, institutional adaptation, and ecosystem restructuring, wherein technology evolves from an auxiliary tool to a core driver transforming disciplinary ecosystems. 2) Horizontal interlocking of three dimensions: enhanced empirical precision, expanded research domains, and constructed regulatory frameworks.This synergy facilitates a shift from experience-based inquiry toward standardized, interdisciplinary, and institutionalized modern paradigms. Archaeological science demonstrates that technological empowerment fundamentally constitutes deep co-evolution between technical rationality and disciplinary institutionalization. Its model of " deliberate institutional catalysis" provides a replicable paradigm innovation framework for fields such as digital humanities. This exploration highlights the transformative potential for humanities and social sciences to leverage technological logic in reconstructing research legitimacy and expanding the frontiers of knowledge production.