9780136026891

In the Beginninguses an international perspective throughout while outlining the basic principles, methods, and theoretical approaches of modern archaeology. Its clear exposition of the basic principles of archaeology in combination with numerous interesting examples from all over the world and balanced coverage of archaeology makes this text a superb entry point for beginners.

Brian Fagan is a leading archaeological writer and internationally recognized authority on world prehistory. He studied archaeology and anthropology at Pembroke College and Cambridge University. He then spent seven years in sub-Saharan Africa working in museums, monument conservation, and excavating early farming sites in Zambia and East Africa. He was a pioneer of multidisciplinary African history in the 1960s. From 1967 to 2003, he was professor of anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he specialized in lecturing and writing about archaeology to wide audiences. He is now Emeritus Professor of Anthropology.

Brian Fagan has written six best-selling textbooks (all published by Prentice Hall): Ancient Lives: An Introduction to Archaeology and Prehistory; In the Beginning, Archaeology: A Brief Introduction; World Prehistory; Ancient Civilizations (with Chris Scarre); and this volume–which are used around the world. His general books include The Rape of the Nile, a classic history of Egyptology; The Adventure of Archaeology Time Detectives; Ancient North America; The Little Ice Age; Before California: An Archaeologist Looks at Our Earliest Inhabitants; and The Long Summer. He was also General Editor of the Oxford Companion to Archaeology. In addition, he has published several scholarly monographs on African archaeology and numerous specialized articles in national and international journals. An expert on multimedia teaching, he has received the Society for American Archaeology's first Public Education Award for his indefatigable efforts on behalf of archaeology and education.

Brian Fagan's other interests include bicycling, sailing, kayaking, and good food. He is married and lives in Santa Barbara with his wife and daughter, four cats (who supervise his writing), and last but not least, a minimum of four rabbits.

To the Reader
To the Instructor
About the Author
What Happened in Prehistory?
Background to Archaeology
Introducing Archaeology
Why Study Archaeology?
Discovery: Tutankhamun's Tomb, Egypt, 1922 Archaeology
Is Fascinating Archaeology and the Remote
Past Discovery: Grotte de Chauvet, France, 1994 Archaeology in Today's
World Archaeology and Politics
Who Owns the Past?
The Crisis in Archaeology
Collectors and the Morality of Collecting Pseudoarchaeologies
Archaeology, Anthropology, and History
Doing Archaeology: The Subdisciplines of Archaeology
Archaeology and Prehistory
Archaeology and History
Theory in Archaeology
The Diversity of Archaeologists
The Goals of Archaeology Stewardship
Doing Archaeology: An Archaeologist's
Ethical Responsibilities
Culture History
Past Lifeways
Cultural Process
Understanding the Archaeological Record
Summary
Questions for Discussion
A Short History of Archaeology: Sixth Century B.C. Through A.D. 2007
The Beginnings of Scientific Archaeology
Beginnings Scriptures and Fossils
The Antiquity of Humankind
Discovery: The Somme Handaxes, 1859
The Three-Age System
Human Progress
Unilinear Cultural Evolution
Diffusion and Diffusionists
Discovery: The Altamira Cave Paintings, Spain, 1875
Historical Particularism
Culture History
Components and Phases
Culture Areas
Traditions and Horizons
Old World Archaeology
American Archaeology
The Americas: The Midwestern Taxonomic Method
Discovery: Alfred Kidder at Pecos, New Mexico, 1915-1929
The Americas: Chronology and Time Scales
People of the Past: Early Women Archaeologists
Cultural Ecology
Multilinear Cultural Evolution
Walter Taylor's A Study of Archaeology
Summary
Questions for Discussion
Science, Ecology, and the Many-voiced Past: from the Culture
History Interpretation of Culture
History Invention Diffusion Migration
Discovery: Ancient Pacific Navigation
The "New" Archaeology
Processual Archaeology
Doing Archaeology: Hypothesis Testing at Broken K Pueblo
Postprocessual Archaeology
Some Schools of Archaeological Theory
What Lies Ahead? Site: atalh÷ynk, Turkey
Summary
Questions for Discussion
The Basics
Matrix and Preservation
Archaeological Data
Discovery: Eruption at Akrotiri, Greece, 1967
Site-Formation Processes
The Matrix: Preservation and Human Activity
Discarding
Recycling
Preserving
Ceremonial Artifacts and Heirlooms
Deliberate and Accidental Destruction
Preservation Conditions: Inorganic and Organic Materials
Doing Archaeology: The Ur Lyre, Iraq
Organic Materials and the Archaeological Record
Waterlogged Environs and Wetlands
People of the Past: Pharaoh Rameses II
Dry Conditions
Extreme Cold Conditions
Volcanic Ash
Summary
Questions for Discussion
Doing Archaeological Research
The Archaeologist's Skills
Discovery: A Saxon Ship Burial at Sutton Hoo, England, 1939
Theoretical Skills
Methodological Expertise
Technical Skills
Administrative and Managerial Skills
Writing and Analytical Skills
Archaeology and Science
The Scientific Method
The Process of Archaeological Research
Doing Archaeology: Ancient Wine at Abydos, Egypt
Research Design and Formulation
Data Collection
Data Processing, Analysis, and Interpretation
Doing Archaeology: The Aveb
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In The Beginning

In The Beginning

0136026893

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials