ABSTRACT
What is archaeology and how did it begin? Chapter 1 tells the story of the early archaeological discoveries that led to the development of scientific archaeology. We will enter the world of the early antiquarians and excavators and explore the controversies surrounding the antiquity of humankind. Then we will journey to Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the eastern Mediterranean to learn about the discovery of the world’s earliest civilizations. Next, we will trace the beginnings of American archaeology with the controversies over the Moundbuilders and the spectacular discovery of Maya civilization in Central America by John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood. Finally, we will examine some of the early theories that sought to explain the development of ancient human societies, culminating in the basic theoretical approaches of today.
