Atlas Of Archaeology

Unearth and explore the fascinating worlds of our ancestors from the earliest human to the Industrial Age. From the discovery of a Bronze Age ritual monument to the reconstruction of a classic Roman villa and the piecing together of a New World settlement, this highly illustrated atlas is a compelling guide to both recent and historic archaeological sites around the world. Mick Aston and Tim Taylor inspire us with their enthusiasm for archaeology to look at the evidence of the past all around us. Unearthing a range of sites from early cities to medieval castles and Industrial Age factories, they reveal the activities that took place and make detailed identifications of key objects found there. The Atlas of Archaeology is sumptuously illustrated with photographs of the artifacts found at each site, followed by a detailed full-color drawing of the site as it would have appeared originally. Photographs of archaeologists at work and explanations of their techniques provide the technical information that is the basis of all archaeological digs. Fourteen full-color maps show more than 1,200 sites around the world, and accompanying profiles give the location of each, the date of discovery, and the key finds. Lavishly illustrated and expertly researched, this fascinating guide to the world of archaeology will encourage all those interested in the past to take a completely fresh and informed look at their surroundings.

A tiny green seedling sprouts through a decaying eye socket of a partially buried skull. Gruesome, says the adult. Awesome, says the kid. It's Page 2 of The Atlas of Archaeology, and it sets the tone of this beautiful book. Archaeology lives. (Houston Chronicle)

The emphasis of imagery over text makes this a useful guide for youngsters or neophyte archaeologists. Marvelous photographs... (Science News)

Illuminating graphic representations of the world's most important sites, with the always helpful DK sidebars and captions. Excellent reference... for those who don't like to get their hands dirty. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Mick Aston is a fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries and a member of the Institute of Field Archaeologists. He is currently Professor of Archaeology in the Department of Continuing Education at Bristol University and has also worked on television programs. Tim Taylor is an independent writer and producer of popular television programs on archaeology.

Hunter-Gatherers; The Neolithic; The Monumental Era; The First Cities; The Iron Age; The Classical Age; The Dark Ages; The Medieval Age; New Settlements; The Industrial Age; Techniques; Gazetteer; Glossary; Index