Product Description
This is the story of Flowerdew Hundred, the plantation Sir George Yeardley established on the south side of the James River. The archaeological records of the site, in the form of broken dishes, bones, building remains and other materials, are used to reconstruct 250 years of life at Flowerdew. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fine introduction to historical archaeology
Writing about the archaeology of more than a dozen unrelated sites that existed over a period of 250 years is not a simple task.The late Jim Deetz, a fine writer, does his best to make sense of a lot of digging that took place over a period of more than twenty years.The account unavoidably drags in places. (Do we really care that much whether blacks or Indians made the inferior pottery known as Colono ware?)But Deetz's stylistic grace and sense of proportion keeps the inconsequential from getting out of hand. The introduction and final chapter contain excellent discussions of historical archaeology as a discipline.

Flowerdew Hundred: A Review
This book discusses the History of a Virgina Platation seen through theeyes of those that came long after the people who lived and toiled haddeparted.This story is about people. Some we know of,and some we don't. This is the story of their lives, told through the broken dishes and pipesthat remain.James Deetz weaves together the history of this plantation tocreate a wonderoustapastry for all to enjoy, even if you arent anarcheologist. ... Read more

Product Description

The definitive reference on the art and science of archaeology.

The World Encyclopedia of Archaeology is a sweeping exploration of archaeology that spans the globe from the beginning of recorded history and earlier. Here is a comprehensive view of the past as seen through the remnants of civilizations as they emerge and expand. The book begins by defining modern and ancient archaeology and gives the history of archaeology through the centuries. The different types of archaeology are explored, along with the techniques used for each and the problems, concerns and issues archaeologists face today.

The main section of the book details each region of the world, with the authoritative text revealing the fascinating history of important archaeological sites. This global perspective includes more than 700 illustrations. The atlas section with detailed maps provides placements throughout history.

Accurate, in-depth and up to date, The World Encyclopedia of Archaeology is compelling reading. It serves as an outstanding reference for professionals, researchers, history buffs and general readers.

The World Encyclopedia of Archaeology includes:

• The first humans
• Early hunter-gatherers and farmers
• Megalithic builders
• The Bronze Age
• The Greeks and Romans
• The Dark Ages
• Ancient Mesopotamia
• The Persian Empire
• Nomadic states
• The Indus civilization
• China's dynasties and empires
• Japan and Southeast Asian kingdoms
• Early Mesoamericans
• The Maya, Aztec and Inca
• Ancient Egypt and the Upper Nile
• Iron Age Africa
• Australian Aborigines.

Highlights:

• Compiled and written by an international team of archaeologists and historians
• Reveals the most up-to-date findings and their significance
• Organized geographically by region and key sites
• Uncovers the world's most important sites and treasures
• Spans all periods of human settlement
• Locator guide to sites by country
• List of World Heritage Sites
• 18 special features focus on intriguing topics
• Further readings and a glossary
• More than 700 color illustrations
• Attractive maps that show locations of key sites.

Customer Reviews (3)

Archaeological Tour d'Horizon
"The World Encyclopedia of Archaeology" can be reasonably classified as a "Coffee Table" book, and that label is not intended to be pejorative (even if the ancient skeleton prominently displayed on the cover could be a bit off-putting to some).

This comprehensive book encompasses some 150 archaeological sites around the world, all accompanied by an outstanding set of well-captioned photographs, maps and drawings. Archaeological enthusiasts will immediately recognize the few dozen well-known ancient sites, but there are many more off-the-beaten-track that will be new to most readers. Each is set around a one- or two-page narrative, which is necessarily very brief, and yet not superficial. I was impressed to note that for the entries with which I am personally familiar, the descriptive text skillfully captured the essence of the site and its archaeological significance.

This book should be of interest to a wide audience, from younger readers as an excellent introduction to the artifacts of the ancient world, to experienced travelers who may be seeking exotic new places to visit.

Great for college kids and studying!
I bought this for my brother who is studying Archaeology and Anthropology. It was recommended to me by a few local college professors that teach the subject. It is good reading and can be used a reference for many years to come, in the field or just at home.

A Quality Purchase!
This book is everything I expected. If you are interested at all in archaeology then you definitely should buy this book. It is full of interesting pictures and articles about almost every dig known to mankind. Amazon did a great job getting it to me and I am very pleased with this purchase. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the only textbook which is organized to follow the steps of the actual process of archaeological research in order to present the methods and theoretical frameworks of archaeology, from the planning and actual conduct of field research, to the different ways archaeological data is interpreted to produce an understanding of the past.It is also the only such textbook to give the reader a series of firsthand accounts of what its like to do archaeology, written by a variety of practicing archaeologists. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

NO BOOK!!!!
I HAVE CONTACTED THIS SELLER 3 TIMES.NO RESPONSE.I'M FILING A CLAIM AND A COMPLAINT.!!! I CAN'T EVEN SAY HORRIBLE SERVICE....NO SERVICE AT ALL.

boring
I used this book to fulfill my random GE, it was such a dull class and reading was so painful.Honestly, I was never interested in the subject so you don't have to take my word for it.

boring.
This book is really boring. The only cool thing about it was that it referenced my teacher who taught my class. Other than that I thought it was mind-numbingly awful.

Decent book but needs more pictures
I had this as my main text for a class at Foothill college and it was a relatively easy read if you use the glossary. Their could have been more pictures of the items discussed and I would recommend to any teacher thinking of using this book to gather some more higher quality pictures of the items discussed for the student to look at. ... Read more

Product Description
From the temples of Egypt to the stone circles of Britain, Michell traces the development of the science of astro-archaeology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Secrets of the stones
A worthy successor to his iconic earth energy classic"A view over Atlantis". John Michell was at the forefront of earth energy and ley lines research from the 60's until his death in May 2009.He combined a scholarly research based approach with visionary inspiration. Everything of his is worth reading.Collect them all! ... Read more

Product Description

This book is an introduction to the archaeology of Australia from prehistoric times to the eighteenth century AD. It is the only up-to-date textbook on the subject and is designed for undergraduate courses, based on the author's considerable experience of teaching at the Australian National University. Lucidly written, it shows the diversity and colourfulness of the history of humanity in the southern continent.

The Archaeology of Ancient Australia demonstrates with an array of illustrations and clear descriptions of key archaeological evidence from Australia a thorough evaluation of Australian prehistory. Readers are shown how this human past can be reconstructed from archaeological evidence, supplemented by information from genetics, environmental sciences, anthropology, and history. The result is a challenging view about how varied human life in the ancient past has been.

Customer Reviews (1)

A very useful book about Australian Aborigines
The book covers all the time between the arrival of Homo sapiens on Australian continent, discuss the most important archaeological sites and traces the line toward actual Aborigines. ... Read more

Product Description
New archaeological treasures and finds that reshape our view of the past, recounted by the discoverers themselves.

An unprecedented look inside contemporary archaeology, Discovery! reveals the most exciting, significant, and astonishing finds from the last fifteen years. Many of the book's contributions are written by the discoverers themselves, who give firsthand accounts of their work and assess the significance. They include famous Egyptologists such as Zahi Hawass, Kent Weeks, and Alain Zivie; pioneering underwater explorers such as Franck Goddio; and leading excavators and scientists from America, Britain, China, France, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, and elsewhere.

Discovery! spans two million years of history, from the latest fossil discoveries that rewrite the story of human origins to wrecks of early submarines and ironclads from the American Civil War. There are revelations about the pyramids of Giza, a just-discovered royal tomb in the Valley of the Kings, and gold-filled burials of Assyrian queens at Nimrud, Iraq. Italy's Ice Man and spectacular Inca mummies from high in the Andes bring us face to face with people from the past, while stunning wall paintings from San Bartolo in Guatemala revolutionize our knowledge of the ancient Maya.

International in scope and totally authoritative, the book is illustrated throughout with spectacular photographs, many taken at the very moment of discovery. 295 illustrations and photographs, 290 in color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Fewer topics or a bigger book -- please!
I would have been very surprised a couple of decades ago had someone told me the pace of archaeological discovery would accelerate -- and not just technological innovation leading to better interpretation, but actual new discoveries in the field. Fagan is both a first-rate archaeologist and a thoroughly experienced author of popular works in the field. He's been doing this stuff for a long time and he's pretty good at it. But this book suffers from trying to cram too much information about too many topics into too small a space. There are sixty-two very brief essays, mostly no longer than two or three pages (including pictures), gathered into seven rather artificial sections -- ancient cities, marine research, tombs and graves, ritual and religion, etc. The authors of the essays are often the original investigators themselves -- presumably those capable of writing for the general public. There are some interesting sections, especially those on new work in the Valley of the Kings, breakthroughs in deciphering the Mayan hieroglyphs, and uncovering the colonial fort at Jamestown. There's a basic "Further Reading" list but you'll probably have to resort to Google to pursue anything you find of particular interest.

Discover Discovery
The book has great pictures and in general one page reviews of modern discoveries in archaeology. It will keep you up to date with what's going on with the latest news in this area.

I give it 3 stars.

Delivered as promised.
The book is exactly as promised. It arrived quickly and in excellent condition. I wouldn't hesitate to order from this company again. The book itself is much more than anyone has a right to expect. Page after page excites as it informs. It's hard to sit near it without reaching for it and once reaching for it you're hooked all over again. Wow

A smidge of everything old
First off, the dust jacket photo on the front is a real turn-off, so ignore it. Each chapter covers a different aspect of current archaeological study, including my favorite, looted Greek artifacts. Not every chapter will appeal to every reader, but I bet nobody can pass the great pictures and not read a snatch about it. Worth the price I paid for it.

Discovery; Unearthing the NewTreasures of Archeaology
This book contains lots of new information on recent discoveries and on-going projects that I've read about.Love the information. Lots of photos ,too. ... Read more

Product Description
The second edition of this well-known textbook on Southwestern archaeology provides a coherent and comprehensive summary of the major themes and topics central to modern interpretation and practice. This edition offers a readable and accurate representation of current debates and research in the American Southwest. It challenges readers to integrate the structure and meaning of various broad regional trends that preceded the European conquest. It covers the latest in field research and topical syntheses. It addresses curricular cultural diversity requirements, and contains new maps, line drawings, and photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Best College Text on SW Prehistory
This updated text is the best textbook on Southwest Archaeology available for undergraduates.Not only does it cover all of the important cultural groups, but it touches upon numerous important issues currently being explored in the field.It provides an excellent introduction to all of the major topics in Southwest Archaeology and provides enough information to inspire further investigation on any of these topics by an interested student.I strongly recommend this bookto anyoneinterested in a general introduction to the subject.

Only For Professional Academics
This text does include a lot of information on the southwest, but is not organized.The text does not flow, and some ideas seem to be abruptly discontinued.Items brought up are never explored, and some items are never introduced, just thrown in.The author seems to assume that the reader already has a good basis in southwestern arch, and explains ideas accordingly.

This book may be just fine for the professional in the field, but as a graduate student just being introduced to SW arch, the book was confusing and contradictory.Cordell may know what she's talking about, but is not an author.

The best serious text yet written on southwest archeology
Linda Cordell's extensively revised and updated text is just fabulous.Iteach Archeology of New Mexico at the U. of New Mexico and this text has itall--It handles fact and theory straightforwardly,is well illustrated andhas the best single bibliography available.Students and professionals justcan't miss with this one. ... Read more

Product Description
Archaeologists have long given attention to landscape, especially within settlement archaeology. In recent years, however, the focus on landscape has shifted and what was once generally passive background has now assumed the foreground. This results partly from archaeologists expanding their view beyond individual sites to considering a more comprehensive distribution of human traces in and especially between specific "places of special interest".

This book offers new and diverse perspectives on the ideational qualities of past landscapes. The editors introduce several theoretical sources supporting studies of ideational landscapes and, in so doing, give definitions of key categories of landscape, as constructed, conceived, and ideational. The contributors draw on the wide range of literature on these kinds of landscape, numerous case studies and their own theoretical background and experience to provide a thematic examination of the archaeologies of landscape. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fantastic book
I enjoyed Archaeologies of Landscape immensely. Most of the papers are good, with some clearly standing out, and I never felt the urge to skip through one. The introduction and commentaries in the end are both excellent. This isn't an introduction to landscape archaeology, but that's not to say that the papers can't be enjoyed by those without a background in the field ... Read more

Product Description
The archaeology of recent conflict is a fast-moving field of research. It is challenging and provocative. It deals with established historical events for which the material remains are unquestionably ‘heritage’, but also the more recent, tragic and heavily politicized events, actions and places whose meaning and significance is more ambiguous. But although recent and familiar, it is also a subject that draws closely on established principles of archaeological theory and practice, while also connecting with the related fields of history, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, art and representation. John Schofield draws together projects and ideas from a diverse literature and from his own research, presenting them as a worked example of contemporary archaeology, of heritage management practice and of archaeological principles and theory. This study encapsulates a lively area of current debate: fascinating, challenging, controversial, contemporary and cross-disciplinary. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

My Dad Loves it!
Ordered as a gift for my father. He said the first time he picked it up "for a minute" he ended up reading over 80 pages. ... Read more

Product Description
What do archaeological excavations in Annapolis, Maryland, reveal about daily life in the city's history? Considering artifacts such as ceramics, spirit bundles, printer's type, and landscapes, this engaging, generously illustrated, and original study illuminates the lives of the city's residents--walking, seeing, reading, talking, eating, and living together in freedom and in oppression for more than three hundred years. Interpreting the results of one of the most innovative projects in American archaeology, The Archaeology of Liberty in an American Capital speaks powerfully to the struggle for liberty among African Americans and the poor. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent, Historians could learn a thing or two
Dr. Leone is an exceptional scholar. His work transcends normal narratives of archaeological excavation to become pieces of social histories, integrating landscape planning, material culture, art history and power structures which is them tempored by rich philosophical traditions. While this isn't a beach read, the thinking required by this work is well worth it. It is a fine work which will add great additions to anyone's thoughts on community development. To scholars it will prove that archaeologists not only dig dirt but excavate sentiments not ordinarily found in the documentary record. An excellent book for anyone who wants to understand what historical archaeology is and what it can be. Well worth it ... Read more

Product Description

In this iconoclastic and provocative work, leading scholars Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman draw on recent archaeological research to present a dramatically revised portrait of ancient Israel and its neighbors. They argue that crucial evidence (or a telling lack of evidence) at digs in Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon suggests that many of the most famous stories in the Bible -- the wanderings of the patriarchs, the Exodus from Egypt, Joshua's conquest of Canaan, and David and Solomon's vast empire -- reflect the world of the later authors rather than actual historical facts.

Challenging the fundamentalist readings of the scriptures and marshaling the latest archaeological evidence to support its new vision of ancient Israel, The Bible Unearthed offers a fascinating and controversial perspective on when and why the Bible was written and why it possesses such great spiritual and emotional power today.Amazon.com Review
The Bible Unearthed is a balanced, thoughtful, bold reconsideration of the historical period that produced the Hebrew Bible. The headline news in this book is easy to pick out: there is no evidence for the existence of Abraham, or any of the Patriarchs; ditto for Moses and the Exodus; and the same goes for the whole period of Judges and the united monarchy of David and Solomon. In fact, the authors argue that it is impossible to say much of anything about ancient Israel until the seventh century B.C., around the time of the reign of King Josiah. In that period, "the narrative of the Bible was uniquely suited to further the religious reform and territorial ambitions of Judah." Yet the authors deny that their arguments should be construed as compromising the Bible's power. Only in the 18th century--"when the Hebrew Bible began to be dissected and studied in isolation from its powerful function in community life"--did readers begin to view the Bible as a source of empirically verifiable history. For most of its life, the Bible has been what Finkelstein and Silberman reveal it once more to be: an eloquent expression of "the deeply rooted sense of shared origins, experiences, and destiny that every human community needs in order to survive," written in such a way as to encompass "the men, women, and children, the rich, the poor, and the destitute of an entire community." --Michael Joseph Gross ... Read more

Customer Reviews (130)

Review of 'The Bible Unearthed'
I found this to a great critical consideration of archaeological evidence from Biblical Israel. It addresses all the present controversies in Israeli antiquities, and the authors are willing to speak as few others dare. They continuous call into question (a) the validity of Biblical tradition and (b) the validity of the Biblical account itself.The pair makes extensive use of archaeological evidence. However, I will note that this is something of an 'anti-text' to the Archaeological Study Bible, by Zondervan, which I reviewed earlier. As such, it also shares the evils of this text. The authors do not address competing archaeological claims. They attack traditional religious theories based generally on the biblical text, instead of the evidence faithful archaeologists have offered to defend their beliefs.

Latest research
Included in a range of topics, the book presents the view that the kingdoms of David and Solomon are portrayed in the Bible in an exaggerated format.The most recent scientific data and archaeological research seems to be leading away from the authors' viewpoint, though the issue is not yet definitively settled.Areas of recent research supporting the biblical portrayal are:

1. Thomas Levy of UC San Diego has apparently verified the existence of industrial level copper production in Edom during the era in question thereby indicating the probability of a large & well organized Solomonic state (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,Oct, 2008).

2. The discovery of large walls and early Hebrew writing at Khirbet Qeiyafa from the 10th century BCE indicating a substantial, literate Jewish state (BAR March/April 2010).

3.The unearthing by Eilat Mazar of large fortifications in Jerusalem purportedly from the early years of the Davidic dynasty.If her dating proves correct, Mazar will have provided noteworthy support for extensive Davidic/Solomonic empires (Jerusalem Post, Feb. 23, 2010).

Though the data is leading away from the Finkelstein/Silberman viewpoint, the issue is not yet finally settled (e.g. Mazar's dating). Further reviews will be added as things develop either way.

interesting material, not optimally presented
The material is fascintaing but neither optimally organised nor presented.The syntax is often convoluted and laborious.I would have had an easier time had I been more familiar with the Old Testament, but that is my fault, not the author's. Since there are many references to local geography, more maps, or at least a map index would have been helpful.I recomment it be read with a Bible nearby,a historical map on the wall, and an open mind.

King David and his 5,000 subjects
If you go into a bookshop looking for books about Ancient Israel, the sad thing is that 90% of the books will be written by Christians who believe in the literal truth of the Old Testament. It is extremely difficult to get something that is both accessible and written from an unreligious standpoint.

I am an atheist with Christian parents who studied Ancient History for a number of years. Occasionally I am embarrassed by a question from my Dad about whether the archaeological evidence backs up the story of the Exodus, the Entry into Canaan, the Empire of Solomon, etc etc. I always had to dodge the questions, because I knew the answers were those he might not like.

Israel Finkelstein's "Bible Unearthed" is an easily accessible and widely available guide to the latest consensus amongst historians as to the historicity of the Old Testament. Archaeological surveys indicate that:
§ during the "Empire" of David and Solomon, the land of Judah contained maybe 5,000 pastoralists and small-time villagers, with Jerusalem being an exceedingly tiny settlement that could not possibly be the capital of a broad spanning empire;
§ the cities mentioned as part of the conquest of Joshua mostly did not exist or were laughably weak until about the 600s BC; and
§ at the time of the "Exodus", the entire "promised land" was under the direct control of New Kingdom Egypt. Hebrews attempting to leave bondage under the Egyptians would have had to walk to modern Jordan.

This book tells a different narrative from the OT: one in which a great king of Judah, Josiah, was given the books of the Old Testament by a priest of Jerusalem, and was fired up with zeal for the idea of One God; Josiah then attacked and destroyed altars to indigenous Canaanite gods and tried to conquer areas north of Judah before being killed in battle against the Egyptians.

This version of events has the bulk of the OT being written at least as late as the 600s BC, with only small portions being written earlier; it has David and Solomon as iron age chieftains ruling over only 5,000 people; it has the Israelites originating as the equivalent of Old West settlers moving from shepherding to living in tiny hamlets in the unoccupied hills of Canaan.

Judaism and Christianity arose from these humble beginnings. Some may be offended by the conclusions in this book. But you have to consider the evidence.

EXCELLENT book.
Super informative, well-written, and logically put together. Blows the Old Testament myths right out of the water by way of archaeological evidence--or lack thereof. If you had the sneaking suspicion that much of the Bible was imaginative story-telling, this book will confirm your suspicions; not with rhetoric, but actual proof. And it not only gives you the how, but the why. There's a reason these stories were written down, and the authors present quite a convincing argument. ... Read more

Product Description
Historical archaeology has been without a definitive, up-to-date collection that reflects the breadth of the field-until now. Orser's book brings together classic and contemporary articles that demonstrate the development of the field over the last twenty years, both in North America and throughout the world. Orser's selections represent a wide variety of locales and perspectives and include works by many of the leading figures in the field. Engaging articles make it accessible to any interested reader, and superb for historical archaeology classes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Paperback Version perfect for the student
Dr. Orser edits a wonderful collection of articles that has become one ofmy favorite readings of all time.Certainly a must for any archaeologystudent. ... Read more

Product Description
From Kanorado to Pawnee villages, Kansas is a land rich in archaeological sites-nearly 12,000 known-that testify to its prehistoric heritage. This volume presents the first comprehensive overview of Kansas archaeology in nearly fifty years, containing the most current descriptions and interpretations of the state's archaeological record. Building on Waldo Wedel's classic Introduction to Kansas Archaeology, it synthesizes more than four decades of research and discusses all major prehistoric time periods in one readily accessible resource.

In Kansas Archaeology, a team of distinguished contributors, all experts in their fields, synthesize what is known about the human presence in Kansas from the age of the mammoth hunters, circa 10,000 b.c., to Euro-American contact in the mid-nineteenth century. Covering such sites as Kanorado-one of the oldest in the Americas-the authors review prehistoric peoples of the Paleoarchaic era, Woodland cultures, Central Plains tradition, High Plains Upper Republican culture, Late Prehistoric Oneota, and Great Bend peoples. They also present material on three historic cultures: Wichita, Kansa, and Pawnee.

The findings presented here shed new light on issues such as how people adapted to environmental shifts and the impact of technological innovation on social behavior. Included also are chapters on specialized topics such as plant use in prehistory, sources of stone for tool manufacture, and the effects of landscape evolution on sites. Chapters on Kansas culture history also reach into the surrounding region and offer directions for future inquiry. More than eighty illustrations depict a wide range of artifacts and material remains.

An invaluable resource for archaeologists and students, Kansas Archaeology is also accessible to interested laypeople-anyone needing a summary of the material remains that have been found in Kansas. It demonstrates the major advances in our understanding of Kansas prehistory that have applications far beyond its borders and point the way toward our future understanding of the past. ... Read more

Product Description
The Archaeology of Ancient Greece provides an up-to-date synthesis of current research on the material culture of Greece in the Archaic and Classical periods. Its rich and diverse material has always provoked admiration and even wonder, but it is seldom analyzed as a key to our understanding of Greek civilization. Dr. Whitley shows how the material evidence can be used to address central historical questions for which literary evidence is often insufficient, and he also situates Greek art within the broader field of Greek material culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Tell me more !! Tell me more !!
This book is mainly a general synthesis of the state of archaeological knowledge and research on the Greek Archaic and Classical periods, with some great explanation of the most important controversies (such as the gender division in society, the continuity of religion from the Dark Age, or the Orientalizing influence, etc) to be found in the study of this culture and period. However, the author takes great pains with his writing, so as not to have another dry accademic book with piles of extremely interesting information buried under tones of arid sentences.

As a result, you soon find yourself immerse in a fascinating, colourful world, so different from what many classicists want to give as as "Classic Greek Culture" as to really be a totally "New World". Here, temples and stoas are painted in bright colours, fire-eaters and dancers perform in the Agoras next to philosophers who discuss ethics. This is not, however, a way to make Greek culture look less important than it was. I think the author succeeds in communicating to his readers what the archaeologists have known for some time. These very same archaeologists, though, had to first overcome the reticence shown by the "Classicist Establishment" to consider the overwhelming evidence that Ancient Greece had very little to do with what they had been teaching at Western universities for decades (if not centuries).

Thus, the author begins his book by making the point that much of the vision of "Classical Greece" that we have inherited is really a 18th-century-cum-Victorian Eurocentrist construct, a somewhat imperialistic (one could even say [...]?)ideal of what a "perfect society" should be, and an excuse to model many typical western institutions on.

But don't get the wrong idea that this is the aim of the book. As I said before, the author just intends to give an up-to-date synthesis on what archaeologists have to say. Of course, when the subject is one so dear to,and near, the very core of European identity, controversy is unavoidable. Whitley just states the most important of these controversies, but sometimes, and although he doesn't seem keen on taking positions, his own views show through.

On the whole, the world glimpsed through the pages of this book is so fascinating that I found I needed to know more about some of the issues, so I went to the "Further reading for each chapter" section, and nowhave a nice pile of books to read on the subjects of Greek Sanctuaries (a truly fascinating topic, especially once you've visited Delphi).

I recomend this book for people who are intersted in the subject and want to have up-to-date information, but also as a well-written, never boring introduction to the wonders of Ancient Greece, a culture that, even if we don't know it, is part of ourselves and does not deserve the many clichés we have attached to it.....It needs to be better known....just as we need to know it better ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Archaeology: Basic Field Methods
The book was as described and received it in less than a week. I definitely would recommended to anyone.

Good for field techs
This text is good for BA level staff. It covers all of the technical aspects including how to lay out units. Also of help is the references section in the back for further reading where one can find additional information on pay rates and actual job descriptions.

Awsome Book
Absolutely wonderful book, pages chock full of useful information, it's hard to put down. After your done reading it the charts and graphs are the type of concise information useful to anyone in the field.

Excellent Field Book!
A must have for those interested in the field aspects of archaeology. Covers everything from surveying, mapping,sampling, soil stratigraphy, and even about finding a job! If you are new to archaeology, you definately will like this book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (41)

Western Languages
It is a fascinating fact that most Western and some western Asiatic are based on the same ancestral tongue.Mallory discusses his linguistic theories while offering archeologic and geographic evidence to support them.He calculates that sometime between 4,000 and 6,000 B.C. a horse people, probably native to the steppe somewhere north of the Black Sea, produced a linguistic revolution destined to swallow ancestral languages from northern India, ancient Hatti [Hittite Empire] and almost all of Europe excluding only Finland and the land of the Basques.Hungary, which may have once shared a variant of the Indoeuropean tongue, was linguistically affected by later invaders especially the Huns of Attila.

Despite the fact that 'Indoeuropean' has since morphed into dozens of languages as distinct as Celtic, Russian, Greek, German, Latin, Spanish, French, Italian and Roumanian, they apparently all started as the same language affected by original languages and time.Mallory speculates on this incredible linguistic phenomenon--peaceful diffusion vs military ocnquest.I rather suspect the later.During late prehistory--before people could write of their experiences--there must have been a military juggernaut--a military and linguistic steamroller--perhaps similar to that of other Eastern invaders like the later Huns and Mongols, that radiated centifugally to conquer out vast territories.The conquerors would have left rulers and occupying nobles behind, although apparently not enough to significantly effect the ethnic composition of peoples as diverse as Indians and Norwegians.Like the Roman Empire, which occupied Gaul [now France], Spain and Italy, the Indoeuropeans left the indelible imprint of language.

If this is correct it makes us wonder how occasional peoples, like the Basques in the Pyrenees and the Finns in their taiga, could have withstood the linguistic impact of such a tidal wave.

Classic work, good intro to the field, but a little dated
This book debuted in the 1980's and was probably reasonably current at the time.It explores the general questions relating to the question of who the speakers of Proto-Indo-European were, and when and where they lived.It is a generally interesting and useful book for people who are not well versed on the subject (although Mallory takes a general knowledge of phonemes for granted).

This work is a classic for which there is no simple replacement today.However, it was written over 20 years ago, and the fields involved have advanced considerably in that time.New, and better, models of how the Indo-European languages are related to eachother have been developed, and better approaches to the question of archaeological confirmation of specific Indo-European home lands have also been found.Hence while I would highly recommend the world, I must point out that it is still best suited to introducing someone to the field which would then be followed up with later study.

Scholarly search for the homeland of the Indo-Europeans
Linguists define "Indo-European" as a language entity or unity from which all Indo-european languages derived. By analyzing linguistic patterns of change, scholars can "reconstruct" the language and situate it in a time period when it was a unified language. The task is then to provide this abstract language entity with a living group of people and a homeland.

The first chapters and the last ones, where the author presents the problem, geographically locates where Indo-Europeans are to be found and where he draws some conclusions, are really good. He lost me a bit in the middle, where the book acquires a "scholarly" taste (by this I do not mean difficult to understand); I mean that the author does not get carried away by his own hypothesis. He explains all the existing ones and then proceeds to present the evidence for and against each, mainly from the linguistic perspective, but also considering evidence from other areas (comparative philology, archeology, comparative mythology, etc.). For each hypothesis, evidence was found that contradicted it and I felt that no matter how many pages I read, we were as far from the "promised homeland" as in the beginning. In the end, no hypothesis is conclusive, but the one in which the contradictions could be "bridged" more easily is pesented as the most probable one. In his conclusion, the author himself kind of apologizes for having lead the reader through a lot of "cul de sacs". I myself prefer when an author writes more like fiction telling a clear and unified story at the expense of maybe drawing conlusions a bit to far. Then you can still read his opponent's book to have a more complete picture and enjoy both.

All in all, I learnt a lot from this book, for example, how do you analyze nomadic groups from an archeaological perspective if they left no "settlements"? Well, the answer is that they might have left some cemeteries or lonely graves and luckily some "gifts" for the deceased, as well as some ritual places or camps. The maps in the book are very useful.

interesting but too academic
This book is very scholarly:it gets extremely detailed about comparative linguistics as correlated with the archaeological record.I was looking for exactly that, as I have been curious about this for many years.

Unfortunately, the book errs more in the direction of academic rigor and offers far too little as a story-telling experience. As such, while the content is truly fascinating, it get mired in details from the names of obscure archaeological sites that are not on the book's lousy maps to the particular scholars who are advancing certain points of view about a certain common word. Bottom line:it isn't very fun.

However, I learned an immense amount and am glad to I read it.The Indo-Europeans emerged in about 4000 BC, a pastoralist "people" in the Pontic Caspian area.Unlike sedentary agriculturalists, they migrated both to Europe (North and West) and South into India.They had a common vocabulary and language, a mythology with motifs that have survived to present in many cases (like divine twins), horses (a decisive advantage for warriors and nomads), and certain advanced technologies (chariots and agricultural implements and practices).These attributes enabled the Indo-Europeans to absorb an astonishing array of peoples in the areas of their migrations.Then once more sedentary, their languages became the roots of all the modern I-E languages, clearly the most commonly spoken of all the world's languages.The great contribution of this book is the merging of linguistic and archaeological observations, that is, how roots from the original I-E language correlates with objects and the landscapes they encountered.

For the curious, there are many many wonderful details.For example, the Persain language group generated quite a diaspora.In addition to the Iranians, you had the Alans (later the Ossetians), Medes, Parthains, and Scythians; they ranged from Aisa minor to Spain and N. Africa.The book follows their migrations and histories quite succinictly.It is very fun, as most of them are mentioned n classical histories but many are never differentiated other than being non-Greek.The book also traces how the Finno-Ubrian and Basque languages remained non-I-E.

I would recommend this book, but it is more for students of linguistics and/or archaeology than interested laymen.

Endless Search for the Indo-Europeans
Great info but perhaps too many pages weighing the evidence for the exact geographic location of the original group of
people who spoke Proto-Indoeuropean. But an important basic text for understanding the issues of PIE. ... Read more

Product Description
Geophysics is used in dealing with problems from academic to practical interest. Applications can include, an understanding of the structure of the Earth, resource exploration, environmental and construction concerns, as well as archaeology, palaeontology, law enforcement, and counter-terrorism. The nature of this science makes inaccessible to all but those with rigorous training in mathematics and physics. While there are a great many publications in geophysics at various levels, none has been directed towards those that have a professional need to know about the geophysical techniques or are simply curious. This book was written with that particular audience in mind. Although its fundamental focus is on archaeological applications, it is sufficiently broad to be useful as a reference to support other applications and is sufficiently self-contained to serve as an introductory text. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent introduction for non-scientists
This is an excellent book for non-scientists. I am not attempting to belittle archaeologists, but most haven't taken the math to understand geophysics at a fundamental level. They are most interested in applying geophysics as a tool to assist in their work for which this book will be an asset. I have also read the books by Gaffney and Clark which are good introductions. This book actually has some math in it, which is a good thing. The book grew out of the geophysics for non science majors that Witten taught at the University of Oklahoma which was a quite popular course. I recommend it for any archaeologist or non-scientist who is interested in geophysics. ... Read more

Product Description
Crusader Archaeology draws together recent excavated material culture in Israel, Cyprus, Syria and Jordan to examine what life was like for the Crusaders in their territory, and how they were influenced by their new-found neighbours. Chapters discuss:
* urban and rural settlements
* surveying agriculture
* industry
* the military
* the church
* public and private architecture
* arts and crafts
* leisure pusuits
* death and burial
* building techniques.
This highly illustrated volume creates a wonderful portrait of the period, which will make fascinating reading for all those interested in the Middle Ages, and in particular the Crusaders. ... Read more