Archaeology by Design

By (author) Stephen L. Black, Kevin Jolly

Not available to order

Publication date:

19 March 2003

Length of book:

200 pages

Publisher

AltaMira Press

ISBN-13: 9780759116290

Archaeology doesn't just happen. With large numbers of people involved, the complex logistics of fieldwork, funding needed for projects of any size, and a bewildering set of legal regulations and ethical norms to follow, a well-run archaeological project requires careful and detailed planning. In this reader-friendly guide, Black and Jolly give novice researchers invaluable practical advice on the process of designing successful field projects. Encompassing both directed academic and directed CRM projects, they outline the elements needed in your professional toolkit, show step-by-step how an archaeological project proceeds, focus on developing appropriate research questions and theoretical models, and address implementation issues from NAGPRA regulations down to estimating the number of shovels to toss into the pickup. Sidebars explain important topics like the Section 106 process, the importance of ethnology and geology to archaeologists, OSHA requirements, and how to assess significance. Archaeology by Design is an ideal starting point for giving students and novices the big picture of a contemporary archaeological project.
Archaeology by Design is a unique and valuable resource for professionals and students alike. It is extremely readable and presents a cogent framework for conducting archeological research. Amateurs with an interest in the profession as well as thesubject matter of archeology will also find the book of value. . . . Readers will find the prose to be conversational in style, attribution of other scholars' ideas relaxed, and citations minimal. Throughout the book, the authors strive to distill involved and complex ideas to essential concepts. This is a very difficult task which the volume, on balance, is successful in accomplishing...