An objective guide to this fascinating science of history andcultureArchaeology continually makes headlines--from recent discoverieslike the frozen Copper-Age man in the Italian Alps to the newestdating of the first people in America at over 14,0000 years ago.Archaeology For Dummies offers a fascinating look at thisintriguing field, taking readers on-site and revealing little-knowndetails about some of the world's greatest archaeologicaldiscoveries. It explores how archaeology attempts to uncover thelives of our ancestors, examining historical dig sites around theworld and explaining theories about ancient human societies. Theguide also offers helpful information for readers who want toparticipate in an excavation themselves, as well as tips forgetting the best training and where to look for jobs.

Introduction 1Part I: Archaeology: Seeing Past People Today 7Chapter 1: What Archaeology Is 9Chapter 2: What Archaeology Isn't and Why That's Important 23Chapter 3: So You Want to Do Archaeology? What Kind? 33Chapter 4: How Archaeologists Think and Work 53Part II: Archaeological Fieldwork: The Adventure Begins! 65Chapter 5: Supplies and Equipment You Need 67Chapter 6: Archaeological Survey: Finding Where to Dig 75Chapter 7: The Archaeological Dig 95Chapter 8: Laws, Ethics, and Safety in Field Archaeology 121Part III: After the Dig: You've Only Just Begun 133Chapter 9: Processing Excavated Materials in the Laboratory 135Chapter 10: Studying and Analyzing What You've Excavated 151Chapter 11: Reconstructing the Past: Piecing Together the Puzzles 171Part IV: Archaeology Reconstructs the Whole Human Past 193Chapter 12: Early Humans: Original Cave Guys & Gals 195Chapter 13: The Last 10,000 Years: Climate Change and Early Food Production 211Chapter 14: Ancient States 235Chapter 15: Historic Archaeology: Reinterpreting the More Recent Past 259Part V: Archaeology Is for Everyone 279Chapter 16: The Uses of Archaeological Findings 281Chapter 17: How You Can Explore Archaeology 297Chapter 18: Controversies and Sensational Findings 307Part VI: The Part of Tens 327Chapter 19: Ten-Plus Archaeological Places to Visit in the U.S 329Chapter 20: More Than Ten Archaeological Sites to Visit Outside the United States 335Chapter 21: Ten Fun Archaeological Experiences 343Appendix 347Index 355