Digging Up the Past
An Introduction to Archaeological Excavation
John Collis(Author)
Sutton Publishing Ltd
Published on 21. June 2001
Book
Hardback
192 pages
978-0-7509-2737-6 (ISBN)
Description
This concise, readable, well-illustrated introduction to methods of excavation describes a technique that is essential for almost all kinds of archaeology. It is aimed at professional and amateur archaeologists, at students at all levels and at everyone who wants to know how archaeological evidence is discovered. John Collis's book presents new ideas on excavation techniques and challenges traditional approaches to site organization and recording. He uses his 40 years of excavation experience to recommend practical solutions to procedural and interpretive problems, and he considers the impact of computerization and other technical innovations. But he also recalls the history and development of archaeological excavation which provides a background to the methods employed today. He looks in detail at the selection and preparation of archaeological sites, and at the removal, storage and analysis of finds in their context. The best approaches to the excavation of wooden and stone buildings are described, and a chapter is devoted to the treatment of burials and skeletal remains.
Diagrams illustrate the techniques involved and the book includes a fascinating selection of photographs showing excavations in progress in Britain, Europe and America. This practical, common-sense guide should find a place on the bookshelf of everyone who practises archaeology on a professional or amateur basis, and it will be illuminating reading for anyone who wants to understand how archaeologists can recover the past by digging in the soil.
Diagrams illustrate the techniques involved and the book includes a fascinating selection of photographs showing excavations in progress in Britain, Europe and America. This practical, common-sense guide should find a place on the bookshelf of everyone who practises archaeology on a professional or amateur basis, and it will be illuminating reading for anyone who wants to understand how archaeologists can recover the past by digging in the soil.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Stroud
United Kingdom
Publishing group
The History Press Ltd
Illustrations
facsimiles, plans
Dimensions
Height: 244 mm
Width: 172 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
658 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7509-2737-6 (9780750927376)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
11/1996
The History Press Ltd
€18.49
Available for download
Person
John Collis is professor of archaeology at the University of Sheffield. He is an expert on the European Iron Age and he has gained a remarkable reputation as an archaeological excavator over the last 40 years.