ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces archaeology and prehistory and describes how the study of the past began and what archaeologists do. It discusses the importance of archaeology and prehistory in today's world. Archaeology and prehistory provide a constant reminder of our common biological and cultural heritage in a world where xenophobia is still commonplace. The primary goal of archaeology in much of Africa is to write unwritten history as a way of fostering national identity, not from archives and documents but from long-abandoned villages and rubbish heaps, the material remains of the past. The 1930s saw the first attempts to reconstruct ancient environments, to place human settlements in their natural settings. However, the biggest change occurred after World War II, when scientific archaeology came of age. Pseudoarchaeology is all the rage in a world where many people are fascinated by adventure, escapism, and science fiction. A distinctive literary genre tells compelling tales of a long-lost past.
