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Archaeology Essentials: Theories, Methods, and Practice

The concise version of the bestselling introduction to archaeology, updated and in full color Archaeology Essentials , already the most authoritative and accessible introduction on the market, has been updated with new discoveries, new technological innovations, revised pedagogical features, and improved illustrations. Written for today’s students, Archaeology Essentials is rigorous without being over-technical and thorough without being overwhelming. The only truly global archaeology textbook available in full color, the text also provides guidance for aspiring archaeologists in the form of compelling interviews with a worldwide selection of practicing archaeologists. The third edition of Archaeology Essentials is destined to become a classic of the field. 295 color illustrations

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 21, 2011

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About the author

Colin Renfrew

96 books59 followers
Andrew Colin Renfrew, Baron Renfrew of Kaimsthorn was an English archaeologist, paleolinguist and Conservative peer noted for his work on radiocarbon dating, the prehistory of languages, archaeogenetics, neuroarchaeology, and the prevention of looting at archaeological sites.

Renfrew was also the Disney Professor of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge and Director of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research and was a Senior Fellow of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research.

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5 stars
43 (20%)
4 stars
71 (33%)
3 stars
64 (30%)
2 stars
29 (13%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Profile Image for Brandon.
501 reviews1 follower
April 24, 2023
This textbook is far more readable than many other textbooks I've read in college. The main material is clear and concise, and the illustrations are effective at providing visual context for the ideas discussed. The pop-outs are somewhat less helpful, though they are designed to be deeper dives into side content, so perhaps they're simply doing what they're meant to do. I was quite impressed with the quality of this textbook and learned a lot as an introduction to archaeolgical practice.
Profile Image for Gary Newman.
44 reviews1 follower
February 10, 2018
A great introduction for me. I liked the early key advances section.
Profile Image for Riversue.
1,041 reviews13 followers
December 18, 2020
I really enjoyed this. It is clear and concise yet jam packed with fascinating details and a great overview of the basic theories of archaeology.
Profile Image for Alisha.
140 reviews4 followers
December 28, 2021
Read for university. Offered great introduction to archaeological practices.
Profile Image for Raphaela Folia.
362 reviews5 followers
August 14, 2021
Ξεκίνησα αυτό το βιβλίο λόγω ενός μαθήματος (αρχαιολογίας) στο πανεπιστήμιο
αρκετά ενδιαφέρον και μαθαίνεις πολλά πράγματα γύρω από το αντικείμενο
Profile Image for Larry.
348 reviews2 followers
May 16, 2015
For an introduction survey style book it goes rather in depth into the more nitty gritty science behind archaeology. Overall, it is a good solid survey of the field. Some chapters, the more nitty gritty ones, were more challenging to get through than others. That said, I left feeling like I understood the subject a lot better, which was good.
Profile Image for Katherine Christofferson.
1 review
December 1, 2015
This textbook is quite fascinating. I really enjoyed learning about archaeology, and this book was very clear with good definitions and examples.
Profile Image for Rachel Bayles.
373 reviews120 followers
August 17, 2016
Clear, concise, and well-written. Provides a taste of everything, without going too deeply into any one thing.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews