Archaeological fieldwork is a painstaking process—instead of thrilling adventures full of intrigue and mayhem, the archaeologist is immersed in the meticulous work of carefully uncovering and cataloging tiny bits of material from the past. Still, archaeology is not for the faint of heart. As a discipline, it demands reasoned analysis on few details in its attempt to give us invaluable insights into the past. Archaeology draws on chemistry to identify materials, radiochemistry and physics to identify the age of materials. Geology and stratigraphy help determine the placement of artifacts in a location and time period. The discovery and curation of historical documents—from rock paintings and carvings to clay tablets and papyrus scrolls —provide yet more information and context for further research.

Principles of Archaeology offers the reader a curated collection of 125 articles that speak to many different aspects of the field of archaeology and provide insights into the contributions of some of its significant figures. Each article includes a brief abstract, a list of relevant terms, and a number of references for further reading. Principles of Archaeology is an excellent resource for students at the high school and undergraduate levels of education, providing a solid overview of this understated science and perhaps sparking the curiosity
of a new class of future archaeologists.