Archaeology for Dummies - Paperback

by Nancy Marie White (Author)

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.

Back Jacket

Learn to:

• Appreciate history's greatest archaeological discoveries
• Excavate a site, analyze findings, and draw conclusions
• Understand theories about the lives of early civilizations
• Pursue a career in archaeology

Your hands-on guide to this fascinating science of history and culture

Are you amazed by archaeology? This friendly guide introduces you to this intriguing field and the people who reconstruct our past, clearing up common misconceptions and explaining how we learn about ancient human societies. You'll see how to conduct archaeological fieldwork and unearth little-known details about some of the world's biggest discoveries!

• Understand what archaeology is and isn't -- discover its history, its different forms, and the reasoning behind its method
• Learn how archaeologists think and work -- see how they use science to reconstruct the past and why they argue over significant finds
• Go on-site -- know what to pack for a field expedition, where to dig, how to survey and excavate, and ways to handle ethical issues involved in archaeological investigation
• Your real work begins -- process, study, and analyze materials in order to tell the story of past human behavior
• Expand your modern world view -- examine the major archaeological finds to understand what they tell us about today's society
• Get involved -- join societies, volunteer on digs, and study to become a professional archaeologist

Open the book and find:

• Survey and excavation techniques described in detail
• Post-fieldwork procedures, from cleaning and dating to storing artifacts
• The different theoretical approaches of modern archaeology
• The story of human milestones, from the first people through modern times
• Instructive case studies of actual digs
• How to interpret and display the past from different viewpoints
• The latest sensational finds and controversies

Author Biography

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.