An objective guide to this fascinating science of history and
culture
Archaeology continually makes headlines–from recent discoveries
like the frozen Copper-Age man in the Italian Alps to the newest
dating of the first people in America at over 14, 0000 years ago.
Archaeology For Dummies offers a fascinating look at this
intriguing field, taking readers on-site and revealing little-known
details about some of the world’s greatest archaeological
discoveries. It explores how archaeology attempts to uncover the
lives of our ancestors, examining historical dig sites around the
world and explaining theories about ancient human societies. The
guide also offers helpful information for readers who want to
participate in an excavation themselves, as well as tips for
getting the best training and where to look for jobs.
Table of Content
Introduction 1
Part I: Archaeology: Seeing Past People Today 7
Chapter 1: What Archaeology Is 9
Chapter 2: What Archaeology Isn’t and Why That’s Important 23
Chapter 3: So You Want to Do Archaeology? What Kind? 33
Chapter 4: How Archaeologists Think and Work 53
Part II: Archaeological Fieldwork: The Adventure Begins! 65
Chapter 5: Supplies and Equipment You Need 67
Chapter 6: Archaeological Survey: Finding Where to Dig 75
Chapter 7: The Archaeological Dig 95
Chapter 8: Laws, Ethics, and Safety in Field Archaeology 121
Part III: After the Dig: You’ve Only Just Begun 133
Chapter 9: Processing Excavated Materials in the Laboratory 135
Chapter 10: Studying and Analyzing What You’ve Excavated 151
Chapter 11: Reconstructing the Past: Piecing Together the Puzzles 171
Part IV: Archaeology Reconstructs the Whole Human Past 193
Chapter 12: Early Humans: Original Cave Guys & Gals 195
Chapter 13: The Last 10, 000 Years: Climate Change and Early Food Production 211
Chapter 14: Ancient States 235
Chapter 15: Historic Archaeology: Reinterpreting the More Recent Past 259
Part V: Archaeology Is for Everyone 279
Chapter 16: The Uses of Archaeological Findings 281
Chapter 17: How You Can Explore Archaeology 297
Chapter 18: Controversies and Sensational Findings 307
Part VI: The Part of Tens 327
Chapter 19: Ten-Plus Archaeological Places to Visit in the U.S 329
Chapter 20: More Than Ten Archaeological Sites to Visit Outside the United States 335
Chapter 21: Ten Fun Archaeological Experiences 343
Appendix 347
Index 355
About the author
Nancy Marie White is a registered professional archaeologist and Professor of Anthropology at the University of South Florida, Tampa. Her research includes prehistoric and historic archaeological sites of all time periods in the eastern United States, as well as theoretical issues and public archaeology.
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