Archaeology is Rubbish: A Beginners Guide
This is a manual for those who want to know how the task of archaeology is undertaken, but it's also a history of the subject. In addition it answers the questions archaeologists are most frequently asked. But above all, it's entertainment. The authors hope it will encourage those with an interest in digging, but equally it should amuise and engage those whose archaeological ambitions are limited to turning the pages of this book. It is the story of a fantasy dig the readers undertake in their back garden. They begin by digging a small hole in their lawn. This gradually gets bigger until they are compelled to destroy their garden shed. Eventually they come down on the remains of a Roman villa. Their trench then extends into their neighbour's back garden, and ultimately over their back wall into the site of a proposed supermarket. What began as a piece of keyhole archaeology is, by the end of the book, a massive site complete with mechanical diggers and dumper trucks. Intervening chapters highlight various aspects of the dig to tell the history of the discipline of archaeology from the earliest looters of pyramids to the present day. Later chapters explore modern archaeological techniques like geophysics, DNA testing, osteo-archaeology, tree-dating and environmental technology.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.