Introducing Archaeology

Introducing Archaeology offers a lively alternative to many other texts. While covering traditional elements of archaeology, including methods and prehistory, the book also integrates the key principles of curriculum reform for the twenty-first century, as outlined by the Society for American Archaeology. The second edition highlights recent developments in the field and includes a new chapter on archaeology beyond mainstream academia. It also integrates more examples from popular culture, including mummies, tattoos, pirates, and global warming. What results is a surprisingly fresh and contemporary take on archaeology, one that situates the discipline within, but also beyond, the academy. Introducing Archaeology is accompanied by a free website with chapter-by-chapter resources for students, including study questions. Visit www.introducingarchaeology.com. Instructor ancillaries for Introducing Archaeology include an instructor's manual, PowerPoint slides, and a testbank.

Table of Contents:
List of Figures List of Tables List of Text Boxes Note to Instructors Note to Students Acknowledgements About the Author 1. Situating Archaeology Introduction Images of Archaeology Defining Archaeology A Scholarly Endeavor, a Profession, and a Craft Archaeology versus Archeology Contextualizing Archaeology Rationalizing Archaeology Basic Concepts in Archaeology Key Resources and Suggested Reading 2. Looking at Archaeology's Past Introduction From the Ancient Philosophers to the End of the Eighteenth Century Archaeology in the Nineteenth Century From 1900 Onward Key Resources and Suggested Reading 3. Managing Archaeology in the Early Twenty-First Century Introduction The Four Major Types of Archaeology Subfields of Archaeology National and International Heritage Management Ethics and Archaeology Career Tracks in Archaeology Sharing Information Key Resources and Suggested Reading 4. Comprehending the Archaeological Record Introduction Defining the Archaeological Record and Its Components Creating Archaeological Sites Understanding Bias in the Preservation of Material Remains Site Disturbance Key Resources and Suggested Reading 5. Working in the Field Introduction Designing Archaeological Field Projects Discovering Archaeological Sites Excavation Field Laboratories Ethnoarchaeology and Experimental Archaeology: Research Design and Field Methods Hazards of Fieldwork Key Resources and Suggested Reading 6. Working in the Laboratory Introduction Laboratory Processes Artifact Analysis Ecofact Analysis Analysis of Human Remains Using DNA in Archaeology Key Resources and Suggested Reading 7. Reconstructing Culture History Introduction Determining Antiquity Conceptualizing Time World Prehistory Ancient Civilizations Key Resources and Suggested Reading 8. Reconstructing Ecological Adaptations Introduction Reconstructing Palaeoenvironments Reconstructing Settlement Patterns Reconstructing Subsistence Strategies Distinguishing Wild Plants and Animals from Domestic Reconstructing Diet Key Resources and Suggested Reading 9. Reconstructing the Social and Ideological Aspects of Cultures Introduction Reconstructing Inequality Reconstructing Types of Societies Reconstructing Identity Reconstructing Ideology Key Resources and Suggested Reading 10. Explaining Things of Archaeological Interest Introduction Three Levels of Archaeological Research Mechanisms of Culture Change Conceptual Frameworks Explaining the Transition to Food Production Explaining the Collapse of Civilizations Understanding Bias in Archaeological Explanations Evaluating Competing Explanations Key Resources and Suggested Reading 11. The Archaeology of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow The Current State of Archaeology Archaeologies of the Contemporary Archaeology, Climate Change, and Sustainability Predicting the Future of Archaeology Final Comments Key Resources and Suggested Reading Glossary Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Robert J. Muckle is Professor of Anthropology at Capilano University in North Vancouver, Canada. He is the author of several textbooks, includingIntroducing Archaeology (second edition, 2014) and Indigenous Peoples of North America (2012); writes an online monthly column for Anthropology News; and is actively engaged on Twitter (@bobmuckle) in anthropology and archaeology related discussions.