Archaeology Book Reviews
The general science book market has developed numerous excellent sources of information about the study of archaeology. Here is a collection of recent reviews of science books that give the reader the real story... in real jargon-free English. Below this is a listing of the most recently reviewed books; the navigation lane at the right lists books by category.
The Why Files - The Science Behind the News
The Why Files is a collection of articles from The Why Files website, attractively bound for the general science grazer.
The Why Files is a collection of articles from The Why Files website, attractively bound for the general science grazer.
The Lost City of Z
The Lost City of Z tells the story of Percy Harrison Fawcett--an obsessed man who sacrificed his life and family in search of the fabled El Dorado.
The Lost City of Z tells the story of Percy Harrison Fawcett--an obsessed man who sacrificed his life and family in search of the fabled El Dorado.
Xibalbá Gate: A Novel of the Ancient Maya
Xibalbá Gate relates an almost believable story of an archaeology professor who creates a cyberspace time portal that allows him to observe and even participate in the collapse of a fictional Maya city.
Xibalbá Gate relates an almost believable story of an archaeology professor who creates a cyberspace time portal that allows him to observe and even participate in the collapse of a fictional Maya city.
The Incas: New Perspectives
The Incas: New Perspectives is a terrific synthesis of what is currently understood about the Inca civilization, and certainly a must-have for generalists or students of the Inca.
The Incas: New Perspectives is a terrific synthesis of what is currently understood about the Inca civilization, and certainly a must-have for generalists or students of the Inca.
The Lost Legions: Cultural Contact in Colonial Australia
The Lost Legions is Alistair Paterson's book about the British colonialism of the Australian outback--and it contains more fascinating ideas than can be fully explicated between its covers.
The Lost Legions is Alistair Paterson's book about the British colonialism of the Australian outback--and it contains more fascinating ideas than can be fully explicated between its covers.
The Eastern Mediterranean in the Age of Ramesses II
The Eastern Mediterranean in the Age of Ramesses II is a welcome broad-brush viewpoint of the Late Bronze to those of us who study ancient history one culture at a time, and sorely need the sharper lens.
The Eastern Mediterranean in the Age of Ramesses II is a welcome broad-brush viewpoint of the Late Bronze to those of us who study ancient history one culture at a time, and sorely need the sharper lens.
Reading the Bones - A Peggy Henderson Adventure
Reading the Bones is an excellent introduction for middle school kids (8-12 years old) to the tough questions about archaeology and cultural resource management.
Reading the Bones is an excellent introduction for middle school kids (8-12 years old) to the tough questions about archaeology and cultural resource management.
Prehistoric Fiction: Swigart, Lessing, and 10,000 BC
A brief summary of a handful of books that use fiction to illuminate the past.
A brief summary of a handful of books that use fiction to illuminate the past.
Machu Picchu - Exploring an Ancient Sacred Center
If you're planning an expedition to Peru to take a look at Inca sites (and of course if you are you wouldn't miss Machu Picchu), Johan Reinhard's book would be a terrific companion, keeping you on target to understand the ruins and learn something about the Inca culture as well.
If you're planning an expedition to Peru to take a look at Inca sites (and of course if you are you wouldn't miss Machu Picchu), Johan Reinhard's book would be a terrific companion, keeping you on target to understand the ruins and learn something about the Inca culture as well.
Chinese Society in the Age of Confucius (1000-250 BC) - a book review
Chinese Society uses archaeological data to provide depth and context to the establishment of Chinese culture that is invisible to the ethnologist and the historian.
Chinese Society uses archaeological data to provide depth and context to the establishment of Chinese culture that is invisible to the ethnologist and the historian.
Archaeological Ethics - a book review of Vitelli and Chanthaphonh
Archaeological Ethics contains a broad range of articles and would be quite suitable as a textbook for a course on ethics, as a resource for the working or armchair archaeologist, or to anyone seeking a taste of the leading edge of human rights in the field.
Archaeological Ethics contains a broad range of articles and would be quite suitable as a textbook for a course on ethics, as a resource for the working or armchair archaeologist, or to anyone seeking a taste of the leading edge of human rights in the field.
Global Dawn - a book review of Global Dawn by Deborah Gelbard
Global Dawn is a novel about a visionary leader who spearheads a electronic database project to the detriment of family and dayjob. Based on the Digital Earth Project.
Global Dawn is a novel about a visionary leader who spearheads a electronic database project to the detriment of family and dayjob. Based on the Digital Earth Project.
Protecting Catalhoyuk: Memoir of an Archaeological Site Guard
Sadrettin Dural's memoir of his life as a site guard at the Neolithic site of Catalhoyuk is a fascinating glimpse into his thoughts and feelings about the site and the archaeologists who work there.
Sadrettin Dural's memoir of his life as a site guard at the Neolithic site of Catalhoyuk is a fascinating glimpse into his thoughts and feelings about the site and the archaeologists who work there.
The Great Pyramid: Ancient Egypt Revisited
John Romer's book The Great Pyramid: Ancient Egypt Revisited is an awe-inspiring exploration of the history and people involved in the construction and study of Khufu's Pyramid.
John Romer's book The Great Pyramid: Ancient Egypt Revisited is an awe-inspiring exploration of the history and people involved in the construction and study of Khufu's Pyramid.
Homeland: An Archaeologist's View of Yellowstone Country's Past - a Bo
Homeland: An Archaeologist's View of Yellowstone Country's Past is a strange, rangy book, and at the same time a perfect expression of the cowboy archaeologist.
Homeland: An Archaeologist's View of Yellowstone Country's Past is a strange, rangy book, and at the same time a perfect expression of the cowboy archaeologist.
Introducing Archaeology
Robert Muckle's Introducing Archaeology is an excellent addition to the selection of introductory texts on the market today.
Robert Muckle's Introducing Archaeology is an excellent addition to the selection of introductory texts on the market today.
Archaeology of Early Buddhism
Lars Fogelin's Archaeology of Early Buddhism is an excellent introduction both to the archaeology of Buddhism and the theory of practice as it works in archaeological studies.
Lars Fogelin's Archaeology of Early Buddhism is an excellent introduction both to the archaeology of Buddhism and the theory of practice as it works in archaeological studies.
Uncommon Sense
Anthony Aveni's "Uncommon Sense: Understanding Nature's Truths Across Time and Culture" is an unclassifiable study in the history of science and culture and the unquenchable thirst we humans have for finding patterns in nature's chaos.
Anthony Aveni's "Uncommon Sense: Understanding Nature's Truths Across Time and Culture" is an unclassifiable study in the history of science and culture and the unquenchable thirst we humans have for finding patterns in nature's chaos.
The First Human: The Race to Discover our First Ancestors
The First Human is a new book written by science writer Ann Gibbons, describing the discoveries and personalities involved in the past hundred years or so of the race to find the earliest human ancestor.
The First Human is a new book written by science writer Ann Gibbons, describing the discoveries and personalities involved in the past hundred years or so of the race to find the earliest human ancestor.
X Marks the Spot: The Archaeology of Piracy
The archaeology of piracy--the peg-legged, exotically-clothed, fancy-hat-with-a-feather, black-eye-patched sort of piracy--is the subject of a new book from the University Press of Florida called X Marks the Spot: The Archaeology of Piracy, edited by Russell K. Skowronek and Charles R. Ewen.
The archaeology of piracy--the peg-legged, exotically-clothed, fancy-hat-with-a-feather, black-eye-patched sort of piracy--is the subject of a new book from the University Press of Florida called X Marks the Spot: The Archaeology of Piracy, edited by Russell K. Skowronek and Charles R. Ewen.
The Master Plan: Himmler's Scholars and the Holocaust
Heather Pringle's book, the Master Plan, highlights one truly unspeakable evil of the Third Reich—-not the lunatics running the asylum, but the scholars and artists who supported and worked for its success. The book is extremely well-researched, with over 130 pages of notes, bibliographic references and index.
Heather Pringle's book, the Master Plan, highlights one truly unspeakable evil of the Third Reich—-not the lunatics running the asylum, but the scholars and artists who supported and worked for its success. The book is extremely well-researched, with over 130 pages of notes, bibliographic references and index.
Caribbean Rum: A Social and Economic History
Frederick Smith's new book titled Caribbean Rum: A Social and Economic History details the story of rum making within the context of the African and European culture, both at home and in the colonies, the political machinations of intercontinental trade, the competing colonial markets and the effects of treaties and conflicts.
Frederick Smith's new book titled Caribbean Rum: A Social and Economic History details the story of rum making within the context of the African and European culture, both at home and in the colonies, the political machinations of intercontinental trade, the competing colonial markets and the effects of treaties and conflicts.
Writing Archaeology
Writing Archaeology is prolific writer Brian Fagan's introduction to authoring books and articles on general archaeological topics that fairly bursts with information on everything from considering your market to writing the proposal to avoiding some of the pitfalls of the editor/agent relationship.
Writing Archaeology is prolific writer Brian Fagan's introduction to authoring books and articles on general archaeological topics that fairly bursts with information on everything from considering your market to writing the proposal to avoiding some of the pitfalls of the editor/agent relationship.
Yeti Researcher - Society for Cryptic Hominid Investigation
The Yeti Researcher is a curious, involving send-up of academic and amateur journals in paleoanthropology, and part of Issue 17 of McSweeney's, which is generally pretty strange and involving all on its own.
The Yeti Researcher is a curious, involving send-up of academic and amateur journals in paleoanthropology, and part of Issue 17 of McSweeney's, which is generally pretty strange and involving all on its own.
Introductions to Archaeology
A collection of the best introductions to archaeology there are on the market today, all published within the past few years.
A collection of the best introductions to archaeology there are on the market today, all published within the past few years.
Lost Star of Myth and Time: A Book Review
Walter Cruttenden's book Lost Star of Myth and Time is well written, a lively text and obviously heavily researched. It is a grand synthesis of the last 14,000 years of world history, used both as a condemnation of millennia of human progress and a search for the spirituality of human life; and although it is not science, it is an interesting and entertaining read.
Walter Cruttenden's book Lost Star of Myth and Time is well written, a lively text and obviously heavily researched. It is a grand synthesis of the last 14,000 years of world history, used both as a condemnation of millennia of human progress and a search for the spirituality of human life; and although it is not science, it is an interesting and entertaining read.
The Sea Kings: The Prophecy
This first book in Les Cole's Sea King Trilogy is an exciting, detailed romance of the high seas of the Mediterranean Sea during the Bronze Age. The hero, Tanuati, a selfish Cretan lout, wanders around the sea picking up knowledge and girls at about the same rate. An entertaining way to spend an afternoon.
This first book in Les Cole's Sea King Trilogy is an exciting, detailed romance of the high seas of the Mediterranean Sea during the Bronze Age. The hero, Tanuati, a selfish Cretan lout, wanders around the sea picking up knowledge and girls at about the same rate. An entertaining way to spend an afternoon.
In Search of Myths and Heroes
In the new book and television program In Search of Myths and Heroes, Michael Wood seeks to learn about four ancient legends. The book is essentially a wistful fairy tale, that doesn't provide a clearer image of what the past was like or even the likelihood that a particular story actually happened; but in the romantic tradition of a favorite story told again and again.
In the new book and television program In Search of Myths and Heroes, Michael Wood seeks to learn about four ancient legends. The book is essentially a wistful fairy tale, that doesn't provide a clearer image of what the past was like or even the likelihood that a particular story actually happened; but in the romantic tradition of a favorite story told again and again.
The Last Imaginary Place: A Human History of the Arctic World
Robert McGhee’s The Last Imaginary Place is either about the courageous nature of the western mind, or about its sheer lunacy in exploring the dangerous beauty of the arctic regions of our planet. I can’t decide which. McGhee is a fiercely good writer, and The Last Imaginary Place evokes his fascination with the climate, people, and threat of the Earth's arctic.
Robert McGhee’s The Last Imaginary Place is either about the courageous nature of the western mind, or about its sheer lunacy in exploring the dangerous beauty of the arctic regions of our planet. I can’t decide which. McGhee is a fiercely good writer, and The Last Imaginary Place evokes his fascination with the climate, people, and threat of the Earth's arctic.
Unconquered Lacandon Maya
Joel W. Palka’s book, Unconquered Lacandon Maya, discusses the current and historical conditions of the various groups of people collectively called the Lacandon.
Joel W. Palka’s book, Unconquered Lacandon Maya, discusses the current and historical conditions of the various groups of people collectively called the Lacandon.
Archaeology the Comic: A Book Review
Johannes Loubser’s "Archaeology--The Comic" is an introductory archaeology text that uses the graphic novel medium to elucidate many of the trickier technical discussions in archaeology.
Johannes Loubser’s "Archaeology--The Comic" is an introductory archaeology text that uses the graphic novel medium to elucidate many of the trickier technical discussions in archaeology.
The Egyptologist
Arthur Phillips' The Egyptologist is blackly funny, evocative of both the roaring twenties of Boston and the working conditions of the Valley of the Kings under the British, and I highly recommend it to anybody looking for a good, absorbing, funny adult novel.
Arthur Phillips' The Egyptologist is blackly funny, evocative of both the roaring twenties of Boston and the working conditions of the Valley of the Kings under the British, and I highly recommend it to anybody looking for a good, absorbing, funny adult novel.
The Anasazi Mysteries
The Anasazi Mystery series, written by Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear, are fascinating, well-paced page-turners, that convey a very real sense of what it’s like to do archaeology in the 21st century, and a very plausible picture of what it was like to live and die in the San Juan Basin during the disastrous 13th century. A contributed review from Thomas F. King.
The Anasazi Mystery series, written by Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear, are fascinating, well-paced page-turners, that convey a very real sense of what it’s like to do archaeology in the 21st century, and a very plausible picture of what it was like to live and die in the San Juan Basin during the disastrous 13th century. A contributed review from Thomas F. King.
The Rape of the Nile
Brian Fagan's The Rape of the Nile is a resonant description of those days when science and scientific thought was being forged, both awful and awe-inspiring.
Brian Fagan's The Rape of the Nile is a resonant description of those days when science and scientific thought was being forged, both awful and awe-inspiring.
Fossil Legends of the First Americans
Adrienne Mayor's Fossil Legends of the First Americans is interesting, both for its detailed descriptions of the legends and investigations of paleontological data by Native American people, but also for the visible struggles of a scientist trying to reconcile one of the bigger problems of our society.
Adrienne Mayor's Fossil Legends of the First Americans is interesting, both for its detailed descriptions of the legends and investigations of paleontological data by Native American people, but also for the visible struggles of a scientist trying to reconcile one of the bigger problems of our society.
In the Wake of the Jomon
Jon Turk's In the Wake of the Jomon is an adventure romance of a modern man attempting to reconstruct a possible sailing voyage around the northern Pacific rim from Japan to Alaska.
Jon Turk's In the Wake of the Jomon is an adventure romance of a modern man attempting to reconstruct a possible sailing voyage around the northern Pacific rim from Japan to Alaska.
Andean Diaspora: Tiwanaku Colonies
Paul Goldstein's 2005 book called Andean Diaspora, subtitled The Tiwanaku Colonies and the Origins of Empire, is an intriguing look at the Tiwanaku empire of South America and its colonies several hundred kilometers away.
Paul Goldstein's 2005 book called Andean Diaspora, subtitled The Tiwanaku Colonies and the Origins of Empire, is an intriguing look at the Tiwanaku empire of South America and its colonies several hundred kilometers away.
The Island Chumash
Douglas Kennett's book, The Island Chumash, is an interesting examination of the way humans adapt to changes in their surroundings, whether self- or nature-induced.
Douglas Kennett's book, The Island Chumash, is an interesting examination of the way humans adapt to changes in their surroundings, whether self- or nature-induced.
The Reconstructed Past
The Reconstructed Past is a collection of stories from archaeologists about their experiences in physically reinventing the buildings, villages, and landscapes of the archaeological and historical past.
The Reconstructed Past is a collection of stories from archaeologists about their experiences in physically reinventing the buildings, villages, and landscapes of the archaeological and historical past.
In The Maw of the Earth Monster
In the new book "In The Maw of the Earth Monster", James Brady and Keith Prufer have provided us non-specialists with a survey of the research into caves in and around Mesoamerica, both a regional survey and a theoretical survey.
In the new book "In The Maw of the Earth Monster", James Brady and Keith Prufer have provided us non-specialists with a survey of the research into caves in and around Mesoamerica, both a regional survey and a theoretical survey.
Amelia Earhart's Shoes
A new updated edition of the book written by members of TIGHAR Thomas F. King, Randall Jacobson, Karen Ramey Burns, and Kenton Spading, Amelia Earhart's Shoes reports new research on the 1937 disappearance of the famous woman aviator, including archaeology on an island in the republic of Kiribati.
A new updated edition of the book written by members of TIGHAR Thomas F. King, Randall Jacobson, Karen Ramey Burns, and Kenton Spading, Amelia Earhart's Shoes reports new research on the 1937 disappearance of the famous woman aviator, including archaeology on an island in the republic of Kiribati.
The Goddess and the Bull
Michael Balter's book The Goddess and the Bull may be seen primarily as a biography: of the Neolithic site of Çatalhöyük, of the site excavators, and of the site's story as it has grown and changed throughout the years.
Michael Balter's book The Goddess and the Bull may be seen primarily as a biography: of the Neolithic site of Çatalhöyük, of the site excavators, and of the site's story as it has grown and changed throughout the years.
The Early Upper Paleolithic Beyond Western Europe
The edited volume Early Upper Paleolithic Beyond Western Europe presents data from over 100 sites throughout eastern Europe and Asia on the transition period of 50,000 to 35,000 years ago, which saw the evolution of modern human behavior.
The edited volume Early Upper Paleolithic Beyond Western Europe presents data from over 100 sites throughout eastern Europe and Asia on the transition period of 50,000 to 35,000 years ago, which saw the evolution of modern human behavior.
China before China
The book China before China describes the history of the archaeological investigations of Swedish geologist Johan Gunnar Andersson and Ding Wenjiang, intellectual and scholar of the newly established Chinese republic between 1914 and 1925. Together, they discovered Chinese prehistory and paleontology.
The book China before China describes the history of the archaeological investigations of Swedish geologist Johan Gunnar Andersson and Ding Wenjiang, intellectual and scholar of the newly established Chinese republic between 1914 and 1925. Together, they discovered Chinese prehistory and paleontology.
Romancing the Maya
Romancing the Maya is about ownership of the past, and an intriguing book and I think a rather important one, for all of us who think about the past and study cultures not our own.
Romancing the Maya is about ownership of the past, and an intriguing book and I think a rather important one, for all of us who think about the past and study cultures not our own.
Shovel Bum the 'Zine
Trent de Boer's fanzine Shovel Bum presents a comic viewpoint of life in the (archaeological) trenches of the field technician, affectionately known as the shovel bum. Altamira Press recently published this compilation of recent issues.
Trent de Boer's fanzine Shovel Bum presents a comic viewpoint of life in the (archaeological) trenches of the field technician, affectionately known as the shovel bum. Altamira Press recently published this compilation of recent issues.
The Deserter: Murder at Gettysburg
A new book by mystery writer Jane Langton crosses into the Civil War to track down an ancient case of identity theft.
A new book by mystery writer Jane Langton crosses into the Civil War to track down an ancient case of identity theft.
Linking to the Past
Kenneth Feder has a long distinguished history of writing great introductory texts. With Linking to the Past, he uses a web-based text to provide a searchable, enhanced and exciting text for students new to archaeology.
Kenneth Feder has a long distinguished history of writing great introductory texts. With Linking to the Past, he uses a web-based text to provide a searchable, enhanced and exciting text for students new to archaeology.
Magnificent Objects: A Review
Magnificent Objects is a new large-format book of beautiful color photographs of artifacts from the collection of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology, giving the reader a taste for the art history of the world's peoples.
Magnificent Objects is a new large-format book of beautiful color photographs of artifacts from the collection of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology, giving the reader a taste for the art history of the world's peoples.
Cobble Circles and Standing Stones: A Review
I highly recommend Cobble Circles and Standing Stones for anybody interested in the Chiriqui or Costa Rican archaeology, but also for anybody contemplating a career in archaeology, or just curious to understand how the science of archaeology works.
I highly recommend Cobble Circles and Standing Stones for anybody interested in the Chiriqui or Costa Rican archaeology, but also for anybody contemplating a career in archaeology, or just curious to understand how the science of archaeology works.
Dug to Death: A Review
Adrian Praetzellis has crafted a yakkety little murder mystery, which in reality is an entertaining exaggeration of what field work can really be like. If you want to be an archaeologist, if you really want to know what being an archaeologist is all about, you should go on a field school. And take this book with you. It'll give you a clue as to what else can go wrong.
Adrian Praetzellis has crafted a yakkety little murder mystery, which in reality is an entertaining exaggeration of what field work can really be like. If you want to be an archaeologist, if you really want to know what being an archaeologist is all about, you should go on a field school. And take this book with you. It'll give you a clue as to what else can go wrong.
Moche Portraits: A Book Review
Christopher Donnan's new book, Moche Portraits from Ancient Peru, gives a great introduction and insight into this most personal of prehistoric ceramic art.
Christopher Donnan's new book, Moche Portraits from Ancient Peru, gives a great introduction and insight into this most personal of prehistoric ceramic art.
Top Cross Discipline Books in Archaeology
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.
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.
Top Archaeological Encyclopedias
This category is made up of my professional secret stash of encyclopedias and overviews. While supplemented by frequent trips to the library, this group is still the backbone of the Archaeology website at About.com, and is guaranteed to help anyone get familiar with a broad bariety of topics.
This category is made up of my professional secret stash of encyclopedias and overviews. While supplemented by frequent trips to the library, this group is still the backbone of the Archaeology website at About.com, and is guaranteed to help anyone get familiar with a broad bariety of topics.