Everything I know about African archaeology draws me deeper into it.

Although I haven't seen an enormous number of books on the subject, the breadth of our history and prehistory there continues to amaze and delight me. Here's seven recent books on the archaeology of Africa that I've enjoyed and can recommend. Included among them is the third edition of David Phillipson's classic text on African Archaeology, a book that I have come to rely on, for its breadth of coverage and its extensive bibliography. You'll also find biographical sketches written by archaeologist Carmel Schrire, and a book on the scandalous history of the earliest humans, from science writer Ann Gibbons.

• Books on the Archaeology of Africa