How do archaeologists know where to dig? How do they find out how old things are? And who gets to keep the objects they find? It is questions like these, often asked by curious members of the public, that Eric H Cline sets out to answer in this new publication.
Like Cline’s earlier book Three Stones Make a Wall (from which this short volume is adapted), it offers an entertaining, informative introduction to archaeology. While its predecessor followed the development of the discipline over time, Digging Deeper focuses on how archaeology is actually carried out. It includes a wealth of practical details and advice, covering subjects from the realities of excavation (dispelling any illusions of daily treasure finds, while also reflecting on how rewarding it can be) to the remarkable ways in which new technologies advance our ability to learn about the past, as well as tackling issues like looting, the sale of antiquities, and the future of archaeology.
An enjoyable, light-hearted read, packed with useful information and helpful anecdotes, Digging Deeper draws on Cline’s decades of experience in archaeology. It is the perfect book for someone just starting out in archaeology, or anyone who has always wondered exactly how and why archaeologists do what they do.
Review by Amy Brunskill.
Digging Deeper: how archaeology works, Eric H Cline Princeton University Press, £10.99 ISBN 978-0691208572.
