This is an introduction to all aspects of modern archaeology. The text explores: ideas in cognitive and "postprocessual" archaelogy; the archaeology of gender and the role of women archaeologists; new methods, such as GIS (Geographic Information Systems), optical dating and DNA research; and recent discoveries - the Alpine "Iceman", the Palaeolithic painted caves of Cosquer and Chauvet in France, the mass grave of pre-modern humans at Atapuerca, Spain, and the pre-Columbian gold finds at Sipan, Peru. The book includes an in-depth case study on a key site in Southeast Asia.

About the Author

Colin Renfrew is Disney Professor Emeritus of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge. He is the author of many books, including Before Civilization, Archaeology and Language and Figuring It Out: the Parallel Visions of Artists and Archaeologists. Paul Bahn is a prehistorian and archaeological writer. He is the author or editor of numerous books, including the standard introduction to cave art, Journey through the Ice Age. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.