Archaeology: The Essential Guide to Our Human Past [Hardcover]

Epic in scope, yet filled with detail, this illustrated guide takes readers through the whole of our human past. Spanning the dawn of human civilization through the present, it provides a tour of every site of key archaeological importance. From the prehistoric cave paintings of Lascaux to Tutankhamun's tomb, from the buried city of Pompeii to China's Terracotta Army, all of the world's most iconic sites and discoveries are here. So too are the lesser-known yet equally important finds, such as the recent discoveries of our oldest known human ancestors and of the world's oldest-known temple, Göbekli Tepe in Turkey. A masterful combination of succinct analysis and driving narrative, this book also addresses the questions that inevitably arise as we gradually learn more about the history of our species. Written by an international team of archaeological experts and richly illustrated throughout,Archaeology: The Essential Guide to Our Human Pastoffers an unparalleled insight into the origins of humankind.BOOKLIST, STARRED REVIEW
While we are not able to predict with entire clarity where we are going, archaeology allows us to take a ound if not entirely dispassionate look at where we’ve been. It is hard to imagine a more engrossing or horough overview of human history than this volume. Spanning from prehominid beginnings in Africa to he Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876, Bahn's copiously illustrated, involving, and informative guide iscusses how what we leave behind tells us about how we lived and even how we lived, thought, and orshipped. This reference title's entries are generally two pages in length, with between two-to-six clear lack-and-white photographs.  A description of the site under consideration is given along with what cane deduced from the remains. Photos are analyzed in captions, enhancing the text.  Written by experts in he field, most with universil3œ