African Archaeology: A Critical Introduction
Offers an introduction to the archaeology of Africa. This title challenges misconceptions and claims about Africa's past and teaches students how to evaluate these claims. It includes an introduction that explores the contexts that shaped archaeological knowledge of Africa's past... read full description below.
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Full details for this title
| Interest Age |
All ages |
| Reading Age |
All ages |
| Library of Congress |
Africa - Antiquities., Archaeology - Africa., Antiquities, Prehistoric - Africa. |
| NBS Text |
Archaeology |
| ONIX Text |
Professional and scholarly |
|
| Number of Pages |
512 |
| Dimensions |
Width: 189mm
Height: 266mm
Spine: 32mm |
| Weight |
1,064g |
|
| Dewey Code |
960.1072 |
| Catalogue Code |
Not specified |
Description of this Book
African Archaeology: A Critical Introduction fills a crucial gap by providing a multi-authored introduction to the archaeology of Africa that challenges misconceptions and claims about Africa's past, and teaches students how to evaluate these claims. Ann Stahl's thoughtful introduction explores the contexts that have shaped archaeological knowledge of Africa's past and asks readers to consider for whom Africa's past matters and why. African Archaeology comprises unique contributions by prominent archaeologists with regional and topical expertise. They explore the preoccupations and assumptions that have framed research, assess the quality and reliability of evidence, and chart emerging research directions and questions that can help build on the strengths of earlier work, while finally setting aside long-held misperceptions. African Archaeology is a landmark volume and an indispensable tool for students, instructors, and researchers.
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Awards & Reviews
| NZ Review |
Ann Stahl has brought together a set of researchers at the height of their powers and incited them to write chapters that bring home to readers the challenge of the archaeological enterprise. This is the book I would give as a text to seniors and to which I would constantly refer if teaching the archaeology of sub-Saharan Africa to students of any and all levels. Nicholas David, University of Calgary<!--end--> This book moves beyond the usual seamless syntheses and looks critically at the quality of the evidence, the questions asked and unasked, and how these have been fashioned into narratives about the African past. It is a unique and indispensable resource for Africanist archaeologists, historians, and students of these disciplines. Susan McIntosh, Rice University I have long desired a text for African archaeology that presents a summary of African prehistory while highlighting the research questions and debates that make the study of the African past exciting; that book is now available. The book's coverage of sub-Saharan Africa is exemplary. Peter Robertshaw, California State University, San Bernardino This book is a showcase for African Archaeology and deserves a place on the bookshelves of all who teach world archaeology, as well as those who study biodiversity of wild and domestic resources, or care about the linguistics or history of Africa. I recommend 'African Archaeology' to you enthusiastically. Journal of African Archaeology This book achieves its main goals admirably. The twenty-three contributing authors (African, European, and North American) are all specialists in their respected fields... The individual chapters are remarkably consistent in tone, which I suspect shows a strong editorial hand, and really do summarize not only vast amounts of information, but also the current debates around significance and interpretation of the archaeological record. It is difficult to imagine a more comprehensive introduction without resorting to an encyclopedia format. The references are copious and up-to-date, which will make this a valuable resource for both lecturers and students. African Studies Review The great strength of the volume is its critical stance. Evidence is presented within its context, warts and all, not as 'the final truth'... The geographic coverage is remarkable...In summary, African Archaeology: A Critical Introduction is a success. It does exactly what its name suggests: leading students by example in evaluating evidence, and dismissing long-held misconceptions about the African past. African History A most welcome addition to the few available text-books on archaeologies of the African continent. HOMO The first ... stated objective ... [is] to give some account of the breadth of history ... .The book does so admirably well. H-Net Reviews |
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Author's Bio
Ann Brower Stahl is Professor of Anthropology at Binghamton University, SUNY
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