Introducing Archaeology, First Edition

Table of Contents:
List of Figures List of Tables Note to Instructors Note to Students Acknowledgments About the Author Chapter 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 Chapter 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 Chapter 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 Chapter 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 Chapter 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 Field Work  Key Resources and Suggested Reading Chapter 6: Working in the Laboratory Introduction  Laboratory Processes  Artifact Analysis  Ecofact Analysis  Analysis of Human Remains  Key Resources and Suggested Reading Chapter 7: Reconstructing Culture History Introduction Determining Antiquity  Conceptualizing Time  World Prehistory Ancient Civilizations  Key References and Suggested Reading Chapter 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 Chapter 9: Reconstructing the Social and Ideological Aspects of Culture Introduction  Reconstructing Inequality  Reconstructing Types of Societies Reconstructing Identity  Reconstructing Ideology Key Resources and Suggested Reading Chapter 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 Epilogue The Current State of Archaeology Predicting the Future of Archaeology Final Comments Glossary Bibliography Sources Index

About the Author :
Robert J. Muckle is a professor of anthropology and archaeology at Capilano University. He is the author or coauthor of several books, including Introducing Archaeology and Through the Lens of Anthropology.

Review :
"Introducing Archaeology is the perfect text for introductory archaeology classes. Concise and well written, it will appeal to instructors and students alike." - Patricia Hamlen, William Rainey Harper College