This group of new books includes texts that are directed towards gaining a broad understanding of archaeology, such as introductory texts and books for children, books that examine issues across a planet-wide range of societies, and theoretical books building underpinnings for all archaeological research.
Introductions to Archaeology
Archaeological introductions are generally for specific classes or groups of people, and so they vary considerably in scope of coverage. Some are specific to a region or state; some are specifically for field work experience or obtaining theoretical background.
• Death by Theory
• Virtual Dig
• The Archaeology Coursebook
• The Past in Perspective
• The Practical Archaeologist
• First Peoples of the Northeast
• Iowa's Archaeological Past
Theory of Archaeology
There isn't a really good way to number these kinds of books; each of the books listed below are all different and do what theoretical texts ought to do---tickle the brain in new ways.
• Archaeological Theory and Scientific Practice
• An Archaeology of the Soul
• Archaeologies of the Contemporary Past
• Fragmentation in Archaeology
• Interpretations of Native North American Life
• Archaeology Under Fire
• Assessing Site Significance
• Archaeological Studies of Gender in the Southeastern United States
• The Archaeology of Difference
• The Archaeology of Communities
Cross Cultural Studies
Many of the most interesting books published in archaeology today look at a broad sweep of ideas, how cultures change, how environment affects us, how different styles of the same thing are expressed across the world. Here are a handful of the most recent.
• Archaeology of Rock Art
• Floods, Famines, and Emperors
• Human Impacts on Ancient Environments
• The Mummy Congress
• Archaeology and the Social History of Ships
• Skywatchers
Children's Books
While I have yet to hear of very many children's books that are actually aimed at teaching archaeological methods or ethics, there have been a few published in the last couple of years.
• Elena and the Coin
• Explorers and Settlers of Spanish Texas
• Ancient Greece
• Ancient Rome
• Ancient Egyptians: People of the Pyramids
