Archaeology: The Basics
4th Edition
Published on 7. February 2022
216 pages
978-1-000-53075-9 (ISBN)
Description
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 ?nd 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, ?otation 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 ?nal 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.
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 ?nd 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, ?otation 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 ?nal 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.
More details
Series
Edition
4th edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Illustrations
1 Tables, black and white; 25 Line drawings, black and white; 21 Halftones, black and white; 46 Illustrations, black and white
ISBN-13
978-1-000-53075-9 (9781000530759)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
02/2022
4th Edition
Routledge
€29.80
Shipment within 10-20 days
Book
02/2022
4th Edition
Routledge
€132.20
Shipment within 10-20 days
Persons
Brian M. Fagan is one of the world's leading archaeological writers and an internationally recognized authority on world prehistory. He is Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Nadia Durrani is a Cambridge University-trained archaeologist and writer, with a Ph.D. from University College London. She is the editor and founder of Archaeology Worldwide magazine, and has authored and edited many articles and books on archaeology from every corner of the globe.
Nadia Durrani is a Cambridge University-trained archaeologist and writer, with a Ph.D. from University College London. She is the editor and founder of Archaeology Worldwide magazine, and has authored and edited many articles and books on archaeology from every corner of the globe.
Content
1. Introducing archaeology; 2. The archives of the past; 3. Finding the archive; 4. Excavation; 5. Technologies; 6. Ancient environments; 7. Subsistence: How did people eat?; 8. Living across the landscape; 9. Dealing with others and the divine; 10. People of the past; 11. Community and identity; 12. Why archaeology?
