A Little History of Archaeology

by Brian Fagan

Overview

The thrilling story of archaeological adventure, and astonishing discoveries around the globe
 
Archaeology tells the story of our ancestors: how they lived, what they believed in and how their cultures developed over millennia. Brian Fagan introduces us to pharaohs’ tombs, Mayan ruins, the first colonial settlements at Jamestown, mysterious Stonehenge, and Pompeii – the city buried by volcanic ash in AD 79.
 
This Little History tells the riveting stories of great archaeologists and their amazing discoveries around the world. For readers of every age, this book explores archaeology’s history of controversies, discoveries, heroes and scoundrels, global sites and newest methods.
 
Little Histories – Inspiring Guides for Curious Minds

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780300283402
Publisher:	Yale University Press
Publication date:	05/13/2025
Series:	Little Histories
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.70(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Brian Fagan is emeritus professor of anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, an internationally recognized authority on global prehistory, and the author of dozens of books on archaeological topics, including Fishing: How the Sea Fed Civilization.

Table of Contents

1 The 'Backward-Looking Curiosity' 1

2 Donkeys and Pharaohs 8

3 Reading Ancient Egypt 14

4 Digging into Nineveh 21

5 Tablets and Tunnelling 28

6 The Maya Revealed 34

7 Axes and Elephants 41

8 A Huge Turning Point 48

9 The Three Ages 55

10 Stone Age Hunters in an Icy World 62

11 Across the Ages 69

12 The Myth of the Mound Builders 75

13 'Stepping into the Unknown' 82

14 Toros! Toros! 89

15 Searching for Homer's Heroes 95

16 'Organised Common Sense' 101

17 The Small and Unspectacular 108

18 The Palace of the Minotaur 115

19 Not 'Men's Work' 122

20 Mud Bricks and a Flood 128

21 'Wonderful Things' 135

22 A Palace Fit for a Chief 142

23 East and West 149

24 Shell Heaps, Pueblos and Tree Rings 156

25 A Fire-Breathing Giant 163

26 Around the River Bend 170

27 Dating the Ages 177

28 Ecology and World Prehistory 183

29 'Dear Boy!' 190

30 The First Farmers 197

31 Defending the Emperor 203

32 Underwater Archaeology 210

33 Meeting the Colonists 216

34 The Ice Man and Others 223

35 Warrior-Priests of the Moche 229

36 Tunnelling for the Cosmos 236

37 Çatalhöyük 242

38 Looking in the Landscape 249

39 Shining a Light on the Invisible 255

40 Archaeology Today and Tomorrow 261

Index 268

Editorial Reviews

In a book about the study of archaeology, it would be easy to fill the pages with tales of digging derring-do. . . Brian Fagan, the noted prehistorian, does not disappoint in that regard, but neither does he provide a narrative of just one remarkable discovery after another. . . He charts the story from 19th-century treasure-hunting among the ruins of ancient Eygpt, up to today’s professional, multi-disciplinary, scientific approaches.”
—David Musgrove, BBC History

“Brian Fagan provides an entertaining account of the development of archaeology across the world. . . Fagan’s recollections. . . help bring the history to life.”—Current World Archaeology

“Learned and lively.”—Wall Street Journal

“A wonderful introduction to the history of archaeology. . . . Captivating.”—Archaeology

“Anyone wishing to appreciate the pedigree of this unjustly overlooked item of furniture should dive between the covers of this volume to experience the ultimate bedtime story.”—Current World Archaeology, January 2020

“The perfect introduction to archaeology and its rich and exciting history. Brian Fagan is a renowned excavator and author of numerous best-selling books on the subject, but this is not a textbook: it reads like a thriller and is impossible to put down."—Francis Pryor, author of Britain BC: life in Britain and Ireland before the Romans 
 

“Crisp, engaging and accessible ... In archaeology today, Brian Fagan is among the very best writers who are able to clearly and effectively communicate with the general public.  This excellent book is no exception.” —Jeremy A. Sabloff, author of Archaeology Matters
 

‘Brain Fagan is a masterful storyteller.  In this “history of,” he captures the personality of archaeology though the principal voices of those who have directed its course for well over two centuries. Marvelous.’—Vernon L. Scarborough, University of Cincinnati

"An engaging and authoritative historical tour of archaeology. As Fagan reminds us, “The past is around for us all to experience and enjoy”—and there can be no better encouragement to do this than the story told in these pages."—Chris Scarre, author of The Human Past

“A terrific and engaging read by a master at the top of his game, told with great gusto and drawn from a lifetime of travelling, digging, observing and thinking about what makes us human.”—Michael Wood, author of In Search of the Trojan War

From the Publisher

Digging with fine tools under the hot desert sun may not appeal to most of us, but listening to a history of the great archeological discoveries proves to be highly engaging, and even somewhat refreshing in a vicarious way. Kevin Scollin is an accomplished narrator who melds his narration to the text, rather than bending it to his own particular style. The chapters are brief, the narratives unexpectedly colorful and engaging, and the listening hours glide by. And who can resist the idea of a “little” history of so specialized a subject? One looks forward to similar productions on, say, rocket science, string theory, and the history of Byzantium. D.A.W. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

OCTOBER 2018 - AudioFile