Johannes H. N. Loubser. 2003. Archaeology the Comic. Altamira Press: Walnut Creek, California. ISBN o-7591-0380-1 (large format alkaline paper). 145 pages, plus Acknowledgements, Introduction, For Further Reading, Glossary and an index.
There really isn’t an established succinct expression for Johannes Loubser’s inventive 2003 book Archaeology: The Comic. The large-format paperback from Altamira Press is part graphic novel but entirely an introductory archaeological text. The medium for the text is an interesting choice, a clever choice in fact, because it allows a great deal of fairly technical explanation to be addressed in a clear, concise manner. Because of the format, sad to say, many archaeology faculty will not look past the cover into the contents. So, I’m going to provide a lot of detail to give Loubser’s book a step upward on the metaphorical shelf. If you’re not interested in detail, you can cut to the chase scene at the bottom.
The Plot (Pot) Thickens
The plot of Archaeology the Comic, I guess that’s what you’d call it, follows the education of an inquisitive teenager named Squizee as she becomes an archaeologist. Chapter 1, “Of Pothunters and Pits”, introduces Squizee and Dr. Holmes, a museum archaeologist who gives Squizee and the readers an in-depth lesson in archaeology. Topics included in Chapter 1 are a brief history of the field, from cabinets of curiosities to the processual movement and beyond, emphasizing the difference between pothunters and archaeologists.
Chapter 2, “A Peek through the Keyhole”, introduces site discovery, survey, mapping, Section 106, shovel testing and sampling strategies. Chapter 3, “Peeling Off the Layers”, teaches excavation techniques, beginning with an explanation of formation processes. Squizee learns to lay out and excavate a test unit, record soil colors with a Munsell color chart and a chromameter, use a Harris matrix, identify soil texture and handle a trowel. I have to say I’ve never seen a detailed description of trowel use before; but the medium of the graphic novel makes the technique perfectly clear. Squizee is also introduced to a Native American consultant and learns the meaning of Traditional Cultural Property.
Chapter 2, “A Peek through the Keyhole”, introduces site discovery, survey, mapping, Section 106, shovel testing and sampling strategies. Chapter 3, “Peeling Off the Layers”, teaches excavation techniques, beginning with an explanation of formation processes. Squizee learns to lay out and excavate a test unit, record soil colors with a Munsell color chart and a chromameter, use a Harris matrix, identify soil texture and handle a trowel. I have to say I’ve never seen a detailed description of trowel use before; but the medium of the graphic novel makes the technique perfectly clear. Squizee is also introduced to a Native American consultant and learns the meaning of Traditional Cultural Property.
Dating and Detail
Chapter 4, “The Dating Game” is the most technical part of Archaeology the Comic. In it, Squizee is introduced to detailed technical descriptions of superposition, radiocarbon dating, AMS dating and the use of a mass spectrometer, calibration and counting errors and dendrochronology. She participates in a CRM project and is introduced to typology and seriation. Thermoluminescence and electron spin resonance are explained in this chapter.
Chapter 5, “Order from Chaos”, s dedicated to the laboratory, and includes an introduction to artifact cataloging, and a series of specialists: a zooarchaeologist, lithic and ceramic specialists, an archaeobotanist, a physical anthropologist and a historical artifact specialist. Etics and emics are introduced, as are flotation and comparative collections. Genetic changes resulting from domestication, the use of ethnographic studies and participant observation, and identifying ethnic characteristics in human skulls is introduced.
Chapter 5, “Order from Chaos”, s dedicated to the laboratory, and includes an introduction to artifact cataloging, and a series of specialists: a zooarchaeologist, lithic and ceramic specialists, an archaeobotanist, a physical anthropologist and a historical artifact specialist. Etics and emics are introduced, as are flotation and comparative collections. Genetic changes resulting from domestication, the use of ethnographic studies and participant observation, and identifying ethnic characteristics in human skulls is introduced.
Finally, Chapter 6, “Spreading the Word,” is a grab bag of controversies. Ethnographic analogy, site hierarchy, gender studies, museum design, evolution, Out of Africa and Multiregional Hypothesis, the development of art, Kennewick man, megafaunal extinctions, the origins of agriculture and the development of technology all are addressed here. Finally, the joys of debate and presenting at conferences rounds out the book.
Archaeology The Comic: The Chase
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 only problem with the graphic format is it doesn’t allow footnotes. Although there is a brief bibliography and a substantial glossary, there are no internal references to point the reader to additional information. However, I don’t think that’s necessarily a weakness that inhibits the book’s use as an introductory text. In my opinion, Archaeology the Comic would work very well for an introductory text for a upper level high school or first year college student; and might be downright perfect for a text accompanying a field school of volunteers and students.
Archaeology The Comic: The Chase
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 only problem with the graphic format is it doesn’t allow footnotes. Although there is a brief bibliography and a substantial glossary, there are no internal references to point the reader to additional information. However, I don’t think that’s necessarily a weakness that inhibits the book’s use as an introductory text. In my opinion, Archaeology the Comic would work very well for an introductory text for a upper level high school or first year college student; and might be downright perfect for a text accompanying a field school of volunteers and students.
