ABSTRACT

This comprehensive, fully illustrated Companion answers the need for an in-depth archaeology reference that provides authoritative coverage of this complex and interdisciplinary field. The work brings together the myriad strands and the great temporal and spatial breadth of the field into two thematically organized volumes.

In twenty-six authoritative and clearly-written essays, this Companion explores the origins, aims, methods and problems of archaeology. Each essay is written by a scholar of international standing and illustrations complement the text.

part I|428 pages

Origins, Aims and Methods

chapter 2|33 pages

The Development of Archaeological Theory

Explaining the past

chapter 4|54 pages

Field Archaeology

chapter 7|44 pages

Studying People

chapter 8|34 pages

Studying Structures

chapter 9|45 pages

Studying Artefacts

part II|326 pages

Themes and Approaches

chapter 11|39 pages

Culture and Identity

chapter 12|35 pages

The Organization of Society

chapter 13|41 pages

Settlement and Territory

chapter 14|62 pages

Food and Farming

chapter 17|42 pages

Population Dynamics

chapter 18|41 pages

Cognition

Thought, ideas and belief

part III|443 pages

Writing Archaeological History

chapter 19|40 pages

Human Evolution

chapter 20|42 pages

Hunter-Gatherer Societies

chapter 21|31 pages

Early Agricultural Societies

chapter 23|42 pages

Urbanization and State Formation

chapter 24|38 pages

The Development of Empires

chapter 25|52 pages

Post-Collapse Societies

chapter 26|37 pages

Europe in the Middle Ages

chapter 27|30 pages

Archaeology and Islam