Historical Archaeology - (Wiley Blackwell Studies in Global Archaeology) by Martin Hall & Stephen W Silliman (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

This volume offers lively current debates and case studies in historical archaeology selected from around the world, including North America, Latin America, Africa, the Pacific, and Europe.

• Authored by 19 experts in the field.
• Explores how historical archaeologists think about their work, piecing together information from both material culture and documents in an attempt to understand the lives of the people and societies they study.
• Engages with current theory in an accessible manner.
• Truly global in its approach but avoids subsuming local experiences of people into global patterns.
• Summarizes not only the current state of historical archaeology, but also sets the course for the field in decades to come.

From the Back Cover

In Historical Archaeology, readers will find lively current debates and case studies in historical archaeology from North America, Latin America, Africa, the Pacific, and Europe. Written by experts in the field, this volume explores how historical archaeologists think about their work and how they piece together information from both material culture and documents to create an understanding of the lives and struggles of people who lived during the course of the last several centuries. Although examining wide-reaching issues of international significance and impact, Historical Archaeology does not subsume local experiences of people into global patterns; instead, it examines the character of local identities and lives.The book serves not only to summarize the current state of historical archaeology, but also to set the course for the field in decades to come.

Review Quotes

"This book should be essential reading (and reference) for any student of historical archaeology but even more than that it should be essential reading for all non-historical archaeology archaeologists so that they can understand what it is that we actually do!" (Australian Archaeology)

"Historical Archaeology is a deservedly self-assured, forward-looking book that insightfully frames many contemporary issues in ways that will stimulate ongoing research and assist a generation of students to become contributors to the goal of developing a global historical archaeology. It should make its way to the top of your pile of things to read." (Northeast Historical Archaeology)

"Reveals the discipline flourished with international growth, acquiring sophistication associated with the best works by archaeologists. This textbook is a major step ... essential reading for students, teachers, and archaeologists worldwide." (American Antiquity)

About the Author

Martin Hall is Vice-Chancellor of the University of Salford, Greater Manchester, and was formerly Professor of Historical Archaeology at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Stephen W. Silliman is Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of Massachusetts, Boston.