| Summary: | Archaeology is the study of ancient civilizations and communities through the finding, analysis and interpretation of objects and artifacts that have been left behind throughout history. This study of the past is a slow and careful process that often includes surveying sites, uncovering artifacts, curating artifacts and even reconstructing archaeological sites. Archaeological fieldwork is a painstaking process. Iinstead of thrilling adventures full of intrigue and mayhem, the archaeologist is immersed in the meticulous work of carefully uncovering and cataloging tiny bits of material from the past. Still, archaeology is not for the faint of heart. As a discipline, it demands reasoned analysis on few details in its attempt to give us invaluable insights into the past. Archaeology draws on chemistry to identify materials, radiochemistry and physics to identify the age of materials. Geology and stratigraphy help determine the placement of artifacts in a location and time period. The discovery and curation of historical documents, from rock paintings and carvings to clay tablets and papyrus scrolls, provide yet more information and context for further research. This title provides a critical look at the many different aspects of archaeology, beginning with key concepts related to this scientific field including carbon dating, forensic archaeology, geoarchaeology and underwater archaeology. An exploration of important archaeologists follows, covering important figures such as Roy Chapman Andrews, who found the first fossilized dinosaur eggs and Marcellin Boule, who was the first to reconstruct a Neanderthal skeleton. A deep dive into ancient cultures such as the eastern Pueblo Tribes and the Beaker People of western Europe is followed by a close-up look at famous archaeological sites such as the ancient city of Petra, Pompeii, Stonehenge and more.
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