Time Detectives: How Archaeologists Use Technology to Recapture the Past

by Brian M. Fagan

Revealing the work of modern archaeologists, who use technology and scientific methods more than shovels, this survey of recent findings includes the earliest Bronze Age shipwreck, ancient Incan farming systems that are superior to current methods, and a newly discovered Mayan city. 20,000 first printing.

Genres: History, Science, Archaeology, Nonfiction, Anthropology

288 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1994

About the author

Brian Murray Fagan was a British author of popular archaeology books and a professor emeritus of Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Reviews

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series of articles regarding the discovery and excavations - some still on-going - with new scientific technology across the world.

*The Wadi Kubbaniya which is an arid oasis in Egypt which was used by foragers and hunters from 10,000 BCE.
*The Head-Smashed-In (seriously, that's it's name) which is a prehistoric bison drive site in Alberta, Canada.
*Exploring the Chumash Indian culture that inhabited the islands off the coast of southern California.
*Abu Hureyra in ancient Mesopotamia and the pre-agricultural revolution and ancient climate change.
*The Anasazi of southeast United States and the droughts which may have driven certain families to cannibalism. That there are archeological scientists knowledgeable about such indications on bones is . . . .concerning. Although, likely no different from forensic scientists having to know it.
*Flag Fen in eastern England with it's platforms and lines of oak posts that hasn't revealed it's Bronze Age secrets as of publication.
*Eden and the Assyrian records along with the Sumer cities dealing with the Persian Gulf rising and receding waters going back to 5000 B.C.
*Vintages of Tut with the wine labels from Tut's own vineyards and scientific evaluation of the residue left in the amphoras and jars, And the Anchor Brewery's re-creation of a Sumer beer recipe. Supposedly turned out to be a dry, white ale.
*The shipwreck of Uluburun, Turkey extensively showing sea trade across the cultures and civilizations of 3000 B.C. Mediterranean
*The Mayan language and cultural decipherment as more cities are taken back from the tropical forests of Central America.
*Ancient agricultural practices around Lake Titicaca and Tiwanku which used raised beds and water canals in the chilly high plains and it has been a modern success which helps provide food to the inhabitants of these regions.
*Hadrian's Wall and the thousands of tablets and letters from the Vindolanda Fort. Some of the oldest Roman correspondence not only in northern Europe but in England itself.
*Annapolis, Maryland and the power gardens, obscure urban lots and the African-American life/culture beyond slavery.

Certainly shows that today's discoveries require even more detailed and extensive research. Items that would have never even been looked at in the early 19th and 20th century digs - the small plant and animal remains that reveal so much information to modern scientists. Interesting and the information - especially regarding the agricultural practices and ancient wines - can so easily be ignored and lost.

2022-208

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed this archaelogy book. The focus is on the techniques and methods sifters and seekers use to date remains, re-assemble them, and read the history from such ancient scraps as debitage (the flakes left over from making stone age tools.) Such stunning tales include rebuilding source rocks out of debitage to ascertain two, differnet-handed tool makers sat side-by-side and putting together a cannibalized skeleton to retell events of human butchery and boiling.

The excessive off-the-cliff mass kills of buffalo by Native Americans, far in excess of their survival needs was enlightening (reminding me that all humanity is at times gluttons) as was the epigraphy of deciphering Mayan.


The only complaints that kept me from giving it 5 starts:

1] I needed more pictures and illustrations

and,

2] For the epigraphy topics, like Mayan and the day-to-day writings of Roman soldiers posted at Hadrian's Wall, I wanted more actual quotes, regardless of how mundane.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty good book for introducing a young person to the profession and tools utilized in archaeology. The author describes a number of well known sites and identifies techniques used to identify and date materials that have been found at these sites. One nice addition is a section on suggested further readings related to each chapter. This appears to be somewhat of an after-thought as the text is lacking in footnotes and references.

[Violet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some chapters were a bit more interesting to read than others. Lots of changes from the past that are used to gather information about a site. The new technology they use are a wonder.

[Andrew Chmyr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Computer is failling so this willl be short. An excellent read dated yes as Archeology like all sicinces moves ahead. But an excellent read. High;y recomended/

[Sandra Strange · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is now dated, but explains how more and more technologies, as they were developed, transformed archaeology, and details how teams of scientists with varying specialties, from DNA/genetic experts, scientists expert in ancient plants and geology specialists work together with archaeologists to solve the puzzles uncovered in various sites. The book works to treat archaeological discoveries and puzzle solving from sites of the very first men, the first farmers, the first city builders to later work on more modern sites in Maryland. You have to be interested in archaeology to enjoy this book, with its explanations and details of discoveries and solutions.

[Fred Neidhardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the title promises modern technology being used to discern archeological sites' content, it's basically a series of dig sites where digging is the main implement. Some use of technology, such as floating seeds up, are mentioned, but that was almost a hundred years ago that it was first used. It mentions technology that was used at the time as modern, but very little in current (as of the time of this publication) sites. It's very interesting, but it's also very dry.

[Cami]

Find a more recent book on archaeology

[David R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

In spite of well written chapters centered on archaeological projects across the globe, there are two enormous problems. First, the title is misleading. Technology is discussed but plays only a small supporting role, and Fagan glosses over archaeological technology most of the time. Second, Fagan (as I have learned in several books) persistently avoids appropriate documentation of his claims. There are no footnotes (!) and what passes for references is a lightly populated appendix of "additional reading" opportunities. I'm a little suspicious of a number of Fagan's assertions and found notable errors in the chapter on the peoples of the southwest USA and I suppose we can only take the author's word on it. I'm not recommending this book to the casual reader of the subject of archaeology. Other works more seriously discuss most if not all of the same sites.

[April Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

What ages would I recommend it too? – Twelve and up.

Length? – Several days read.

Characters? – None.

Setting? – Our world throughout history.

Written approximately? – 1995.

Does the story leave questions in the readers mind? – Ready to read more.

Any issues the author (or a more recent publisher) should cover? No.

Short storyline: The "Time Detectives" does an excellent job of blending storytelling how a certain set of artifacts may have come into being at a time and place in the past. Many locations throughout the world are discovered under the guidance of the author. At the end, are chapter separated sections for all of the written documents the authors used to write the chapter. Discussion of new and interesting archeological and dating techniques are discussed in chapters as relevant to the specific digs.

Notes for the reader:

[Christopher Obert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of 13 essays on modern archaeology and how technology is changing that field of study. It is also about how the use of many different scientific disciplines (scientists in different fields of study working at dig sites and in the lab) can bring out much more information than an archaeologist working alone with ancient artifacts. The book is divided into three sections: Hunters and Gathers, Farmers, and Civilizations, and covers discoveries from all across the world. The history of the world’s civilizations is the history of each one of us and I found each article interesting and very much worth reading. Another important aspect of this book is that we can learn so much more by working together than by working alone. An important message for the world we live in today!

[Joseph Mello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, showing the emergence of how teams of specialists have changed the face of archaeology over the past five decades. I liked the range of digs the author covered - from the Moche lords in Peru, to a small gathering in the Netherlands where a few people sat down to carve arrowheads and tools. he also introduces and describes the new technologies being used. For me, who has unfortunately become an armchair archaeologist, I was happy to find a book like this that described methods, tools, etc. It is also very, very readable - not at all dry or academic. I'm going to check out Mr. Fagan's other books, and maybe put a shovel in the dirt in my backyard (lol).

[Danita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty good book. Easy to read with short sections on a wide range of periods and areas. This book has lots of fascinating information and is a good read for anyone just getting interested in archeology.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sometimes find Fagan a little dry to read, but he always impresses with his subject matter, and his knowledge.

[Dave Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moves along nicely for a subject that has potential to be rather boring.

[Miriam]

In The Enigma of Flag Fen (Chapter 6) I learned that a Bronze Age ritual which persisted for over 3,000 years was to make offerings of swords, shields, and helmets by throwing them into water. "Was not King Arthur's sword Excalibur, the gift of the Lady of the Lake, returned to the waters at his death?"