Description
Book SynopsisIn the 30 brief chapters in this book, the author covers many topics such as the peopling of the New World, site looting, the domestication of animals, the impact of feminism on archaeology and evidence of human cannibalism.
Trade ReviewFagan has the gift of being able to sketch out in broad terms the questions that still need to be answered about topics as varied as the peopling of the Americas, the domestication of animals and the cult of the Mother Goddess….His book is perfect, therefore, for someone who wants an overview of some of the interesting work being done today. Fagan is a great tour guide. * Florida Anthropologist *
A Reader's Digest of archaeology. Since the general public is often fascinated by the work archaeologists do and the problems that archaeologists face in the course of their work, this book should be popular to a general audience. * Bulletin of the History of Archaeology *
A stimulating collection of [Fagan's] think-piece articles originally published in the magazine Archaeology. * Current Archaeology *
Based on his columns in Archaeology, the couple of pages on each topic, whether it's the impact of feminism on prehistory or the threatened site of the Elizabethan Rose Theatre, are a good read. * New Scientist *
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction Part 2 I: EARLY LIFEWAYS Chapter 3 Aping the Apes Chapter 4 Elusive Homo erectus Chapter 5 Prehistoric Artists Chapter 6 Reflections on the Kafue Flats Chapter 7 Precocious Fisherfolk Chapter 8 Taming the Auroch Chapter 9 Neolithic Newgrange Chapter 10 New Finds at Flag Fen Part 11 II: COMMONERS, CAMELS, AND GREAT LORDS Chapter 12 The Humbler Egyptians Chapter 13 Saddle up the Camels Chapter 14 Readers in Maya Chapter 15 Eclipses and Chinese Civilization Chapter 16 The Magnificent Moche Chapter 17 Brazil's Little Angola Chapter 18 Balsa Rafts to Ironclads Part 19 III: ISSUES IN CONTEMPORARY ARCHAEOLOGY Chapter 20 All About Eve Chapter 21 Tracking the First Americans Chapter 22 A Sexist View of Prehistory Chapter 23 A Case for Cannibalism Chapter 24 Sergei and the Travois Chapter 25 The Arrogant Archaeologist Chapter 26 Archaeology's Dirty Secret Part 27 IV: ARCHAEOLOGY AND SOCIETY Chapter 28 Black Day at Slack Farm Chapter 29 The Rose Affair Chapter 30 Flooding the Maya Heartland Chapter 31 Enlightened Stewardship Chapter 32 Detective Stories Chapter 33 A Wanderer's Lament Chapter 34 Digging De Mille Chapter 35 Guide to Further Reading
