Archaeology: The Basics, rewritten for this fourth edition, is a
short, engaging book that takes the reader on a journey through the
fascinating world of archaeology and archaeologists.
Written in a non-technical style by two experienced archaeologists and
writers about the past, the book begins by introducing archaeology as a
unique way of studying the entire span of the human past from our
origins some six million years ago to today. The authors stress that
archaeology is a global study of human biological and cultural
diversity. After a brief look at early archaeological discoveries, they
introduce today's multidisciplinary archaeology. Then they go on to
describe the archaeological record, the archives of the past and the
importance of contexts of time and space. How do we find archaeological
sites and how do we explore them? Two chapters laced with examples
examine these questions. Later chapters describe ancient technologies
and how we study them, and the all-important subject of changing ancient
environments and climate change. Zooarchaeology, flotation methods, and
other ways of reconstructing ancient diet and subsistence lead us into
the study of changing settlement patterns across the landscape. Next,
they visit the people of the past, either as individuals or groups,
calling on bioarchaeology to assist them. Two chapters discuss ancient
culture change and the remarkable diversity of ancient societies, and
they are followed by an exploration of the spiritual realm, the
exploration of the intangible. The final chapter looks at the importance
of archaeology in today's world. Rich in numerous examples and
contemporary thinking about archaeology, this book tries to answer an
important question: What does archaeology tell us about ourselves?
Archaeology: The Basics is essential reading for all those beginning
to study archaeology and anyone who has ever questioned the past.
