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مختصر تاريخ الأركيولوجيا - علم الآثار والفنون القديمة
The thrilling history of archaeological adventure, with tales of danger, debate, audacious explorers, and astonishing discoveries around the globe
What is archaeology? The word may bring to mind images of golden pharaohs and lost civilizations, or Neanderthal skulls and Ice Age cave art. Archaeology is all of these, but also far more: the only science to encompass the entire span of human history—more than three million years!
This Little History tells the riveting stories of some of the great archaeologists and their amazing discoveries around the globe: ancient Egyptian tombs, Mayan ruins, the first colonial settlements at Jamestown, mysterious Stonehenge, the incredibly preserved Pompeii, and many, many more. In forty brief, exciting chapters, the book recounts archaeology’s development from its eighteenth-century origins to its twenty-first-century technological advances, including remote sensing capabilities and satellite imagery techniques that have revolutionized the field. Shining light on the most intriguing events in the history of the field, this absolutely up-to-date book illuminates archaeology’s controversies, discoveries, heroes and scoundrels, global sites, and newest methods for curious readers of every age.
What is archaeology? The word may bring to mind images of golden pharaohs and lost civilizations, or Neanderthal skulls and Ice Age cave art. Archaeology is all of these, but also far more: the only science to encompass the entire span of human history—more than three million years!
This Little History tells the riveting stories of some of the great archaeologists and their amazing discoveries around the globe: ancient Egyptian tombs, Mayan ruins, the first colonial settlements at Jamestown, mysterious Stonehenge, the incredibly preserved Pompeii, and many, many more. In forty brief, exciting chapters, the book recounts archaeology’s development from its eighteenth-century origins to its twenty-first-century technological advances, including remote sensing capabilities and satellite imagery techniques that have revolutionized the field. Shining light on the most intriguing events in the history of the field, this absolutely up-to-date book illuminates archaeology’s controversies, discoveries, heroes and scoundrels, global sites, and newest methods for curious readers of every age.
464 pages, Unknown Binding
First published April 10, 2018
221 people are currently reading
2688 people want to read
About the author
Brian M. Fagan
180 books270 followersBrian Murray Fagan was a British author of popular archaeology books and a professor emeritus of Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
September 12, 2018
All artefacts, however humble, have a story to tell. [loc 77]
This offering in the Little Histories series manages to be both informative and absorbing, covering much more than the basics by giving not only the important names and dates, but a sense of the ways in which thinking about and interacting with the past has changed over the years. Of course, advancements in science and technology innovated the field, extending the possibilities for investigation, while the concurrent professionalisation of the discipline moved it towards a more rigorous methodology. But equally, the book addresses what questions have been asked across time and what relative importance has been given to different aspects of archaeological remains, from the ‘frenzied scramble’ for valuable antiquities and fame to the less obviously sexy micro archaeology like food scraps and shell middens. All of this is set against the larger background of cultural, political, social, and religious change, following the ways in which archaeology responded to or informed wider society. The difficulties inherent in fitting human history within the framework of a biblical or Church structured timeline following Darwin’s Origin of the Species and the increasing evidence of provided by archaeological finds, is just one example.
The limited space means that the reader is hit hard with the ‘facts’, but the writing style is engaging enough that it’s no hard read. Maybe one to enjoy in small chunks so that the sheer amount of names and dates don’t seep into the void… (perhaps that’s just me). There’s a good deal of biography for such a short book, including time spent of female pioneers such as Gertrude Bell and Harriet Boyd. Some sections are more interesting than others, with my personal preference being for the sites of Classical Greece and Rome as well as Egypt, but there’s a wide ranging discussion that offers some insight on areas from around the globe. From the Rosetta Stone to Pompeii, to Great Zimbabwe and Mohenjodaro, India- this is no West is Best checklist. Neither does it leave out colonialism, imperialism, racism and the other ways of limiting access that have affected archaeology, though there is so much more to say on these topics and extra information must be found elsewhere. In any case, this is probably best used as a starting point, a chance to see what really interests you, so you can find a book with more depth for your next read.
Overall, an effective and interesting introduction to archaeology that offers the reader a wealth of information and the possibility of even more to discover. A perfect for its subject.
ARC via Netgalley.
This offering in the Little Histories series manages to be both informative and absorbing, covering much more than the basics by giving not only the important names and dates, but a sense of the ways in which thinking about and interacting with the past has changed over the years. Of course, advancements in science and technology innovated the field, extending the possibilities for investigation, while the concurrent professionalisation of the discipline moved it towards a more rigorous methodology. But equally, the book addresses what questions have been asked across time and what relative importance has been given to different aspects of archaeological remains, from the ‘frenzied scramble’ for valuable antiquities and fame to the less obviously sexy micro archaeology like food scraps and shell middens. All of this is set against the larger background of cultural, political, social, and religious change, following the ways in which archaeology responded to or informed wider society. The difficulties inherent in fitting human history within the framework of a biblical or Church structured timeline following Darwin’s Origin of the Species and the increasing evidence of provided by archaeological finds, is just one example.
The limited space means that the reader is hit hard with the ‘facts’, but the writing style is engaging enough that it’s no hard read. Maybe one to enjoy in small chunks so that the sheer amount of names and dates don’t seep into the void… (perhaps that’s just me). There’s a good deal of biography for such a short book, including time spent of female pioneers such as Gertrude Bell and Harriet Boyd. Some sections are more interesting than others, with my personal preference being for the sites of Classical Greece and Rome as well as Egypt, but there’s a wide ranging discussion that offers some insight on areas from around the globe. From the Rosetta Stone to Pompeii, to Great Zimbabwe and Mohenjodaro, India- this is no West is Best checklist. Neither does it leave out colonialism, imperialism, racism and the other ways of limiting access that have affected archaeology, though there is so much more to say on these topics and extra information must be found elsewhere. In any case, this is probably best used as a starting point, a chance to see what really interests you, so you can find a book with more depth for your next read.
Overall, an effective and interesting introduction to archaeology that offers the reader a wealth of information and the possibility of even more to discover. A perfect for its subject.
ARC via Netgalley.
February 22, 2022
آثار الماضي حاضرة من حولنا، ويمكن ان يراها الجميع ويستمتعوا بها، وليس علماء الآثار فحسب. لذلك عندما تزور موقعا اثريا في المرة القادمة، اسمح لخيالك بالانطلاق.
كتاب رائع وترجمة فوق الممتازة يأخذنا في رحلة تفصيلية مختصرة من بداية ظهور علم الآثار ونشأته لأول مرة حتى وصوله لتقنيات حديثة عالية الجودة لتساعد في تخطي جميع العقبات والوصول لكل التفاصيل الخاصة بكل عملية تنقيب حتى اصحبت بلا حفر
ونتعرف على الكثيرين من علماء الآثار والذين كانوا السبب في ظهور وتطور هذا العلم المهم
تجربة مميزة جدا
June 12, 2019
كتاب جيد ومبسط في قصص نشأة علم الآثار وكيف توصل العلماء إلى معرفة شيء من الحضارات القديمة عن طريقها.
لا تنظر إلى علم الآثار على أنه دراسة مجردة للمجتمعات البشرية القديمة، فالحفريات والمصنوعات اليدوية وحدها لا تعيد تكوين الماضي الذي تريد معرفته، فعلم الآثار يجب أن يوضع جنباً إلى جنب مع علوم أخرى مثل الأحياء والجيولوجيا لمعرفة شيء ما عن البدايات البشرية.
ذهبت نصوص الكتاب المقدس إلى أن عمر البشرية لا يتعدى 4004 سنة قبل الميلاد، ما يجعل عمر الإنسان يقترب من 6000 سنة.
دخل العلم والمسيحية في صراع حاد، أعلنت فيه الكنيسة أن الله خلق الطبقات الجيولوجية مرة واحدة وليس بسبب عملية تغيير مستمرة منذ القدم، وأن المخلوقات فرقتها وقتلتها الكوارث التي كان آخرها طوفان نوح.
في عام 1797، اكتشف "جون فرير" في إنجلترا فؤوساً حجرية وعظام فيل منقرضة في طبقات خصبة من الأرض، فأرسل رسالة مهمة إلى جمعية الآثار في لندن قال فيها (العثور على هذه الأسلحة قد يدفعنا بأن نجعلها تشير إلى فترة بعيدة جداً، أبعد من عالمنا الحالي)، تم تجاهل محتوى الرسالة لمدة ستين سنة بسبب شعور البعض بأنها تعارض التعاليم الدينية.... واليوم نجح علم الأركيولوجيا من تصحيح الكثير من مفاهيمنا عن نشأة الكون.
لا تنظر إلى علم الآثار على أنه دراسة مجردة للمجتمعات البشرية القديمة، فالحفريات والمصنوعات اليدوية وحدها لا تعيد تكوين الماضي الذي تريد معرفته، فعلم الآثار يجب أن يوضع جنباً إلى جنب مع علوم أخرى مثل الأحياء والجيولوجيا لمعرفة شيء ما عن البدايات البشرية.
ذهبت نصوص الكتاب المقدس إلى أن عمر البشرية لا يتعدى 4004 سنة قبل الميلاد، ما يجعل عمر الإنسان يقترب من 6000 سنة.
دخل العلم والمسيحية في صراع حاد، أعلنت فيه الكنيسة أن الله خلق الطبقات الجيولوجية مرة واحدة وليس بسبب عملية تغيير مستمرة منذ القدم، وأن المخلوقات فرقتها وقتلتها الكوارث التي كان آخرها طوفان نوح.
في عام 1797، اكتشف "جون فرير" في إنجلترا فؤوساً حجرية وعظام فيل منقرضة في طبقات خصبة من الأرض، فأرسل رسالة مهمة إلى جمعية الآثار في لندن قال فيها (العثور على هذه الأسلحة قد يدفعنا بأن نجعلها تشير إلى فترة بعيدة جداً، أبعد من عالمنا الحالي)، تم تجاهل محتوى الرسالة لمدة ستين سنة بسبب شعور البعض بأنها تعارض التعاليم الدينية.... واليوم نجح علم الأركيولوجيا من تصحيح الكثير من مفاهيمنا عن نشأة الكون.
March 8, 2020
بلا شك سيكون هذا الكتاب من أفضل قراءاتي لسنة 2020
هل سبق وتساءلت عن مفهوم علم الاثار؟ كيف ظهر أول مرة في العالم وأين؟ كيف تحول علم الاثار من هواية لجمع القطع الاثرية إلى علم يدرس في الجامعات؟ كيف أن علم الاثار مثل الشجرة التي تفرعت منها العديد من العلوم الأخرى مثل علم الانثربولوجيا... كيف تُرجمت النصوص الهيروغليفية والسومرية؟ علاقة الكتب المقدسة بالحفريات في الشرق الأوسط؟ من هو الانسان الأول الذي ظهر على الارض, عصور ما قبل التاريخ؟ كيف تأقلم الانسان البدائي مع العصر الجليدي؟ كيف تطور؟ ومتى ظهرت ثقافة الزراعة في العالم؟ كيف استطاع العلماء إيجاد أولى القرى الزراعية في العالم؟ كيف استطاع علماء الاثار تحديد عمر اللقى الاثرية والهياكل العظمية والتي يفوق عمرها آلاف السنين قبل الميلاد؟ كيف تطورت التقنيات المعتمدة في هذا المجال وما دور الكربون المشع؟ كيف انتشر علم الاثار الذي كان مهتما فقط بأوروبا والشرق الأوسط الى جميع بقاع العالم... وصولا إلى علم الاثار تحت الماء...
تاريخ طويل للبشرية يحاول براين فيغن وهو أستاذ علم الانثربولوجيا في جامعة كاليفورنيا ومتخصص في علوم ما قبل التاريخ ومؤلف لعدة كتب في هذا المجال,أن يشرحه في أربعين فصلاً مختصرا وكل فصل هو بحد ذاته موضوعا ضخما كُتبت عنه بحوث ومجلدات...
في الأخير سأكتفي بالإشارة إلى موضوع القطع الاثرية التي هرِّبت إلى دول أوروبا ومع أن الكاتب لم يتحدث عن رأيه الشخصي عنها في الكتاب الا أنه لا يصعب على القارئ استخلاصه من خلال دفاعه على بعض علماء الاثار الذين اشتهروا بسمعة سيئة خصوصا في دول الشرق الأوسط لتهريبهم الاف من القطع الاثرية الى متاحف بريطانيا وفرنسا.. معللاً ذلك على أن مصلحة الاثار فوق كل شيء, (الاثار التي هربت للمتاحف ومختبرات البحوث وليس للمتاجرة بين الاثرياء)
في الحقيقة لا يمكنني إلا أن أتفهم وجهة نظره, فليس من المعقول ان تُموّل بحوث وتنقيبات ضخمة بتكاليف باهظة في مواقع لم يكترث لها أهلها ليتم تسليمها لها وهي التي لا تملك لا العلم ولا التقنيات لدراستها ولا حتى أماكن ملائمة للحفاظ عليها وفي الاغلب ستتم المتاجرة بها سريا.
هل سبق وتساءلت عن مفهوم علم الاثار؟ كيف ظهر أول مرة في العالم وأين؟ كيف تحول علم الاثار من هواية لجمع القطع الاثرية إلى علم يدرس في الجامعات؟ كيف أن علم الاثار مثل الشجرة التي تفرعت منها العديد من العلوم الأخرى مثل علم الانثربولوجيا... كيف تُرجمت النصوص الهيروغليفية والسومرية؟ علاقة الكتب المقدسة بالحفريات في الشرق الأوسط؟ من هو الانسان الأول الذي ظهر على الارض, عصور ما قبل التاريخ؟ كيف تأقلم الانسان البدائي مع العصر الجليدي؟ كيف تطور؟ ومتى ظهرت ثقافة الزراعة في العالم؟ كيف استطاع العلماء إيجاد أولى القرى الزراعية في العالم؟ كيف استطاع علماء الاثار تحديد عمر اللقى الاثرية والهياكل العظمية والتي يفوق عمرها آلاف السنين قبل الميلاد؟ كيف تطورت التقنيات المعتمدة في هذا المجال وما دور الكربون المشع؟ كيف انتشر علم الاثار الذي كان مهتما فقط بأوروبا والشرق الأوسط الى جميع بقاع العالم... وصولا إلى علم الاثار تحت الماء...
تاريخ طويل للبشرية يحاول براين فيغن وهو أستاذ علم الانثربولوجيا في جامعة كاليفورنيا ومتخصص في علوم ما قبل التاريخ ومؤلف لعدة كتب في هذا المجال,أن يشرحه في أربعين فصلاً مختصرا وكل فصل هو بحد ذاته موضوعا ضخما كُتبت عنه بحوث ومجلدات...
في الأخير سأكتفي بالإشارة إلى موضوع القطع الاثرية التي هرِّبت إلى دول أوروبا ومع أن الكاتب لم يتحدث عن رأيه الشخصي عنها في الكتاب الا أنه لا يصعب على القارئ استخلاصه من خلال دفاعه على بعض علماء الاثار الذين اشتهروا بسمعة سيئة خصوصا في دول الشرق الأوسط لتهريبهم الاف من القطع الاثرية الى متاحف بريطانيا وفرنسا.. معللاً ذلك على أن مصلحة الاثار فوق كل شيء, (الاثار التي هربت للمتاحف ومختبرات البحوث وليس للمتاجرة بين الاثرياء)
في الحقيقة لا يمكنني إلا أن أتفهم وجهة نظره, فليس من المعقول ان تُموّل بحوث وتنقيبات ضخمة بتكاليف باهظة في مواقع لم يكترث لها أهلها ليتم تسليمها لها وهي التي لا تملك لا العلم ولا التقنيات لدراستها ولا حتى أماكن ملائمة للحفاظ عليها وفي الاغلب ستتم المتاجرة بها سريا.
December 11, 2023
ما هو علم الآثار؟
هو الفضول لمعرفة كيف كان ماضينا و كيف كان من سبقونا.اذاً علم الآثار يبحث عن المعلومات ولا يبحث عن الكنوز الأثرية فحسب.
يروي الكتاب قصة علم الآثار من خلال القاء نظرة على النشاطات التي قام بها بعضٌ من أشهر علماء الآثار بدءاً من المستكشفين البسطاء قبل عدة قرون إلى فرق الأبحاث المشتركة في القرن الواحد والعشرين.
*يقدم لنا الكاتب في الجزء الأول من الكتاب والذي يضم خمس فصول، علم الآثار العشوائي الذي تم بدون تخطيط مسبق لكنه من الأهمية انه برهن على صحة الكثير من حقائق التاريخ المذكورة في كتب الديانات السماوية.
*يتطور علم الآثار الى ان دُمِجَت الانثربولوجيا بعلم الأحياء. وهذا الدمج تم طرحه في حيز كبير من الكتاب، حاكياً به استكشافات حضارات مختلفة إلى أن نصل إلى دخول التكنولوجيا الطبية في علم الآثار التي بفضلها اصبح بالإمكان معرفة كيف عاش شخص ما في عصور ما قبل الميلاد. كيف كان شبابه وما هي وجبته المفضلة؟. كما أصبح بإمكان علماء الآثار كتابة السيرة الذاتية للمومياءات التي يتم اكتشافها.
**لماذا نجمتين؟
* الكتاب يغلب على سرده، السير الذاتية لحياة أهم علماء الآثار والمستكشفين وهذا ما يجعل الكتاب جاااااااااف جدا..
هو الفضول لمعرفة كيف كان ماضينا و كيف كان من سبقونا.اذاً علم الآثار يبحث عن المعلومات ولا يبحث عن الكنوز الأثرية فحسب.
يروي الكتاب قصة علم الآثار من خلال القاء نظرة على النشاطات التي قام بها بعضٌ من أشهر علماء الآثار بدءاً من المستكشفين البسطاء قبل عدة قرون إلى فرق الأبحاث المشتركة في القرن الواحد والعشرين.
*يقدم لنا الكاتب في الجزء الأول من الكتاب والذي يضم خمس فصول، علم الآثار العشوائي الذي تم بدون تخطيط مسبق لكنه من الأهمية انه برهن على صحة الكثير من حقائق التاريخ المذكورة في كتب الديانات السماوية.
*يتطور علم الآثار الى ان دُمِجَت الانثربولوجيا بعلم الأحياء. وهذا الدمج تم طرحه في حيز كبير من الكتاب، حاكياً به استكشافات حضارات مختلفة إلى أن نصل إلى دخول التكنولوجيا الطبية في علم الآثار التي بفضلها اصبح بالإمكان معرفة كيف عاش شخص ما في عصور ما قبل الميلاد. كيف كان شبابه وما هي وجبته المفضلة؟. كما أصبح بإمكان علماء الآثار كتابة السيرة الذاتية للمومياءات التي يتم اكتشافها.
**لماذا نجمتين؟
* الكتاب يغلب على سرده، السير الذاتية لحياة أهم علماء الآثار والمستكشفين وهذا ما يجعل الكتاب جاااااااااف جدا..
April 3, 2022
History of Archeology? No. Stories of archeological discoveries? Yes. Scientific book with references for further reading? No. Storytelling style to interest readers who might otherwise be reading something else? Yes. Either you know what Fagan is writing about, and then it is boring, or you don't, and then you are frustrated, because it is too sketchy.
Brian Fagan is uncontestably very knowledgeable, but is too much focused on trying to capture the interest of readers with almost no historical knowledge and with a naïve understanding of history who are satisfied with superficial information. Motivated readers, young or old, deserve a more substantial description on how archeology has evolved.
Brian Fagan is uncontestably very knowledgeable, but is too much focused on trying to capture the interest of readers with almost no historical knowledge and with a naïve understanding of history who are satisfied with superficial information. Motivated readers, young or old, deserve a more substantial description on how archeology has evolved.
September 22, 2024
Kto nigdy nie marzył o przeżywaniu przygód u boku Indiany Jonesa, niech pierwszy rzuci kamieniem, czy raczej trzaśnie pejczem!
Filmy z tej serii zajmują miejsce w moim sercu, nawet kiedyś pod ich wpływem rozważałam studiowanie archeologii, ale gdy dotarło do mnie, że prawdopodobieństwo uczestnictwa w podobnych odkryciach jest żadne, zmieniłam zdanie. Nadal jednak elektryzują mnie opowieści o grzebaniu w ziemi i skarbach w niej ukrytych. Z dużą przyjemnością przeczytałam więc książkę Briana Fagana.
Autor, profesor antropologii i badacz prehistorii, potrafi opowiadać. W klarowny sposób prowadzi czytelników przez wieki i odkrycia. Dowodzi, że to "ciekawość przeszłości" była 250 lat temu powodem narodzin archeologii. Każdy archeolog, tak jak i wspomniany już Indiana, musi być trochę detektywem, mieć świętą cierpliwość i ogrom determinacji. Wtedy nie będzie straszny kurz z mumii, który "przełyka się dość nieprzyjemnie", bo odkrycie hieroglifów czy innych czaszek z Neandertalu da zasłużoną satysfakcję.
Na co dzień to żmudna robota. Bolą plecy i kolana, a spektakularne sukcesy osiągają nieliczni i to czasem przez przypadek. Jama, w której znika pies okazuje się pieczarą Altamira, w której dziewięcioletnia córka archeologa odkryła malowidła przedstawiające bizony, dziki i jelenie. A taki Schliemann? Z "Iliadą" w rękach i pasją graniczącą z opętaniem przekopał pół Turcji, by odnaleźć Troję. Są też spokojniejsi poszukiwacze - Carter się uparł i przez 8 lat mrówczo i powoli opróżniał grób Tutanchamona, by nie uszkodzić i nie ominąć niczego.
Autor prezentuje nam sylwetki archeologów (także pierwszych kobiet: Gertrude Bell i Harriet Boyd-Hawes), przywołuje spektakularne odkrycia (np. Człowiek Lodu czy terakotowi wojownicy). Przede wszystkim jednak pozwala czytelnikowi dotknąć przeszłości i jest to wspaniałe doznanie.
Filmy z tej serii zajmują miejsce w moim sercu, nawet kiedyś pod ich wpływem rozważałam studiowanie archeologii, ale gdy dotarło do mnie, że prawdopodobieństwo uczestnictwa w podobnych odkryciach jest żadne, zmieniłam zdanie. Nadal jednak elektryzują mnie opowieści o grzebaniu w ziemi i skarbach w niej ukrytych. Z dużą przyjemnością przeczytałam więc książkę Briana Fagana.
Autor, profesor antropologii i badacz prehistorii, potrafi opowiadać. W klarowny sposób prowadzi czytelników przez wieki i odkrycia. Dowodzi, że to "ciekawość przeszłości" była 250 lat temu powodem narodzin archeologii. Każdy archeolog, tak jak i wspomniany już Indiana, musi być trochę detektywem, mieć świętą cierpliwość i ogrom determinacji. Wtedy nie będzie straszny kurz z mumii, który "przełyka się dość nieprzyjemnie", bo odkrycie hieroglifów czy innych czaszek z Neandertalu da zasłużoną satysfakcję.
Na co dzień to żmudna robota. Bolą plecy i kolana, a spektakularne sukcesy osiągają nieliczni i to czasem przez przypadek. Jama, w której znika pies okazuje się pieczarą Altamira, w której dziewięcioletnia córka archeologa odkryła malowidła przedstawiające bizony, dziki i jelenie. A taki Schliemann? Z "Iliadą" w rękach i pasją graniczącą z opętaniem przekopał pół Turcji, by odnaleźć Troję. Są też spokojniejsi poszukiwacze - Carter się uparł i przez 8 lat mrówczo i powoli opróżniał grób Tutanchamona, by nie uszkodzić i nie ominąć niczego.
Autor prezentuje nam sylwetki archeologów (także pierwszych kobiet: Gertrude Bell i Harriet Boyd-Hawes), przywołuje spektakularne odkrycia (np. Człowiek Lodu czy terakotowi wojownicy). Przede wszystkim jednak pozwala czytelnikowi dotknąć przeszłości i jest to wspaniałe doznanie.
March 25, 2022
Brak przypisów 🙃 nie wiem, czy to kwestia tej książki w ogóle, czy może wersji elektronicznej, którą czytałam?
Ale poza tym - świetna pozycja dla zainteresowanych archeologią!
Ale poza tym - świetna pozycja dla zainteresowanych archeologią!
December 12, 2021
يقدم لنا الكتاب قصّة الحفريات بمراحلها البدائية التي كانت بدوافع شخصيّة كالسرقة وجمع الأموال من بيع المقتنيات ابتداءً والمجد والشهرة ثانيةً... عارضًا (=الكاتب) أبرز رموزها والحفّارين القدماء (=البدائيين) وما سبّبوه من دمار للمواقع الأثرية وللتراث الإنساني المشترك وما قدّموه لنا لكي نستطيع فهم الحضارات البائدة. وكان علم الأثار بدائيًّا -مثله مثل الإنسان- ثم تطوّر بالاحتكاك والتجربة وتطوّرت وسائله وأدواته تزامنًا مع العلوم والمقاربات الحديثة وصولًا إلى العلم الحديث ومكتسباته كالادار في فحص المواقع الأثرية (دون حفر) والكربون في القرن العشرين وتحليل الـDNA الذي من خلالها (أي الأدوات السابقة) اِستطعنا تحديد الفترات الزمنيّة بدقّة ومعرفة أسباب نشوء واندِثار القرى والمدن بسبب العوامل البيئيّة التي حفّزت الإنسان لابتكار الحلول لمواجهة أخطار كالفيضانات وغيرها وكذلك ساعدنا التأريخ الجيولوجي في تحديد عمر الطبقات الأرضية التي يعجز الكربون عن فحصها قبل 50ألف سنة.
تكمن أهمية الكتاب -لا في أسماء الروّاد وقصصهم والتفاصيل الدقيقة- بل في توسيع آفاق النظر للماضي وفهم كيف عاش أسلافنا ولماذا ورثنا عاداتهم التي كانت ونشأت بفعل الطبيعة ومتغيّراتها وعواملها, والنظر للمستقبل بحذر فإن أُفُولُ القرى والمدن والحضارات كان بسبب التهوين من الأخطار البيئيّة المحدقة بهم وها نحن اليوم نُعيد ما فعله الأسلاف مُحمَّلين بالعلم والوعي المستقبلي والتوقعات ولكن لا نفعل شيء إزاء ذلك!
تكمن أهمية الكتاب -لا في أسماء الروّاد وقصصهم والتفاصيل الدقيقة- بل في توسيع آفاق النظر للماضي وفهم كيف عاش أسلافنا ولماذا ورثنا عاداتهم التي كانت ونشأت بفعل الطبيعة ومتغيّراتها وعواملها, والنظر للمستقبل بحذر فإن أُفُولُ القرى والمدن والحضارات كان بسبب التهوين من الأخطار البيئيّة المحدقة بهم وها نحن اليوم نُعيد ما فعله الأسلاف مُحمَّلين بالعلم والوعي المستقبلي والتوقعات ولكن لا نفعل شيء إزاء ذلك!
October 27, 2018
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
I love archaeology, and I must confess I really love the kind of general books that do a bit more of a survey — like Cline’s Three Stones Make a Wall, for example. This looked like it was going to be good in that line, and it wasn’t bad; there’s definitely a lot of info in it and stuff I want to research more, but overall it’s a bit too brief for me. It’s definitely a little history, just a little; there’s so much more to be said about so many of the people and sites that Fagan skims past in giving an overview.
Which is not exactly the fault of the book, but sometimes I feel that the history of archaeology would’ve been better followed through fewer key sites or key archaeologists, rather than a general mix of the two, which ended up feeling unfocused.
I love archaeology, and I must confess I really love the kind of general books that do a bit more of a survey — like Cline’s Three Stones Make a Wall, for example. This looked like it was going to be good in that line, and it wasn’t bad; there’s definitely a lot of info in it and stuff I want to research more, but overall it’s a bit too brief for me. It’s definitely a little history, just a little; there’s so much more to be said about so many of the people and sites that Fagan skims past in giving an overview.
Which is not exactly the fault of the book, but sometimes I feel that the history of archaeology would’ve been better followed through fewer key sites or key archaeologists, rather than a general mix of the two, which ended up feeling unfocused.
January 12, 2023
This has been my bedtime book for those nights I spend at Heirloom Books. Divided in chapters, each describing events or processes important to archaeological research, and roughly chronological, this book is quite suitable for briefer reading occasions.
Although titled a 'history', it's more an assembly of impressionistic accounts written for the general reader unacquainted with the field. Personally, I knew something of pretty much everything Fagan discusses, but it was a pleasant enough refresher.
Although titled a 'history', it's more an assembly of impressionistic accounts written for the general reader unacquainted with the field. Personally, I knew something of pretty much everything Fagan discusses, but it was a pleasant enough refresher.
March 23, 2025
Until I was 18, I wanted to be an archaeologist, mostly due to Indiana Jones. I picked this book up a couple years ago in the Harvard Bookstore, thinking it would be a fun read. I don’t know why I put off reading it for so long. It was interesting, fun, informative, and made me want to go back to school to live out my childhood dream.
September 6, 2022
a cracking read
August 1, 2024
Gerçekten harika bir kitap, arkeoloji ile genel Dünya tarihi ile ilgilenen herkesin okuması gereken kitaplardan,
Eksiklik olarak Göbeklitepe'den hiç bahsedilmemiş diyebilirim,
Onun dışında kazıların sualtı buluntularının çokça bulunduğu yerler Türkiye içinde ve çevresinde, gerçek bir medeniyet beşiği çoğrafyası,
Okurken Arkeoloji'yi Antik Yunan'daki Erdem kavramına benzettim, bir yerleri altın için para için şan şöhret için kazanların olduğu bir zamanda geçmiş zamanı o zamandaki insanları hayatları ve kültürü öğrenmeye çabalayan insanların oluşu diğerlerinin ne kadar değersiz olduğunu gösteriyor,
Kitap oldukça akıcı, Alfa yayınlarının çevirisi çok anlaşılır,
Dünya savaşlarına rağmen merakları ve azimleriyle kendi amaçları uğruna arkeolojik kazı yapan onlarca insan olduğunu bize hatırlatıyor, yazara teşekkür ederim
Eksiklik olarak Göbeklitepe'den hiç bahsedilmemiş diyebilirim,
Onun dışında kazıların sualtı buluntularının çokça bulunduğu yerler Türkiye içinde ve çevresinde, gerçek bir medeniyet beşiği çoğrafyası,
Okurken Arkeoloji'yi Antik Yunan'daki Erdem kavramına benzettim, bir yerleri altın için para için şan şöhret için kazanların olduğu bir zamanda geçmiş zamanı o zamandaki insanları hayatları ve kültürü öğrenmeye çabalayan insanların oluşu diğerlerinin ne kadar değersiz olduğunu gösteriyor,
Kitap oldukça akıcı, Alfa yayınlarının çevirisi çok anlaşılır,
Dünya savaşlarına rağmen merakları ve azimleriyle kendi amaçları uğruna arkeolojik kazı yapan onlarca insan olduğunu bize hatırlatıyor, yazara teşekkür ederim
November 26, 2022
انتهيت للتو من كتاب "مختصر تاريخ الأركيولوجيا" للباحث "براين فيغن"
اولاً الترجمة جداً سيئة و مشتته و في مواضع تشعر انه من الواضح انها ترجمة فورية دون مراجعة و تدقيق !! و هناك عدم فهم بالموضوع المطروح حتى، و هذا جعلني متشتته و سرق مني جزء كبير من المتعة
و نأتي للكتاب ، بصراحة بدأت الكتاب و انا لدي فكرة مسبقة انني سأستمتع بقراءة كتاب عن الآثار التي أسهمت في تطوير هذا المجال و الأساليب المتبعة و لكني صدمت بأن الكتاب ركز على تمجيد العلماء في المجال و وضع أبهة عليهم لم تناسبهم و حاول الكاتب ان يبعد عنهم شبهة سرقة الآثار بتطبيعها في بعض المواضع و ان ذكر في بعضها انها مسروقة! فأغلب المذكورين و بالتواطئ سرقوا الآثار و لم يعيدوها لأهلها انما عرضوها في متاحف في دولهم و هذه سرقة بالمعنى الحرفي ان وضعوا له ألف مسمى! لا أستطيع ان أقول ان هؤلاء الأشخاص لم يسهموا للمجال الأركيولوجي او انهم ليسوا علماء و لكن لا أنكر جانبهم الآخر و هو جانب سئ!! فالكثير منهم كان هدفه الأول المال و الشهرة و القليل كان هدفه العلم
عموماً لم يكن اهتمامي الأساسي الأشخاص انما الآثار و الكيفية و لكن تركيزه على الأشخاص و حياتهم و معاناتهم العظيمة للعيش كما يعيش السكان الأصليين في الدول المذكورة جعلني أشعر بالملل و الترجمة بالطبع لعبت دور مهم في هذا الملل و التشتت!
ككل هناك أمور استفدتها منه و اعطيه ١ من ٥ ✨
January 17, 2022
الكتاب عبارة عن رحلة مبسطة كانت ستكون أفضل لو أنها عبارة عن فيلم وثائقي لتشاهد كم الأماكن الأثرية التي ذكرت في هذا الكتاب
يعرض المؤلف تاريخ الأركيولوجيا وهي علم الآثار وعلاقته بعلوم أخري مثل الجيولوجيا والأحياء والتاريخ وتطور البحث في هذا المجال من التنقيب والحفر إلي التأريخ بالكربون وتقنيات الاستشعار عن بعد
عيب الكتاب أنه مشتت بين الشرق والغرب ولم يتبع تسلسل واضح في مواضيعه لكن علي الرغم من ذلك الكتاب مليء بمواضيع شيقة وذكر الكثير من الأماكن الأثرية التي لم أسمع عنها من مختلف الحضارات والعصور
يعرض المؤلف تاريخ الأركيولوجيا وهي علم الآثار وعلاقته بعلوم أخري مثل الجيولوجيا والأحياء والتاريخ وتطور البحث في هذا المجال من التنقيب والحفر إلي التأريخ بالكربون وتقنيات الاستشعار عن بعد
عيب الكتاب أنه مشتت بين الشرق والغرب ولم يتبع تسلسل واضح في مواضيعه لكن علي الرغم من ذلك الكتاب مليء بمواضيع شيقة وذكر الكثير من الأماكن الأثرية التي لم أسمع عنها من مختلف الحضارات والعصور
March 29, 2023
كتاب مهم و مفيد جدا يلخص ابحاث كثيرة في علم الآثار
March 23, 2025
Arkeolojinin "keşif tutkusu"nun değişen biçimlerinin serencamına antik eserlere meraklı, çevrelerince absürt, dâhi ve nüktedan addedilen John Frere, John Aubrey ve William Stukeley gibi isimlerle başlıyor Brian M. Fagan akademisyenliğinin yetkinliğine harikulade hikâye anlatıcılığını ekleyerek. Ardından Avrupa'daki çeşitli bölgelerde değerli eşyalar ve antik eserler bulmak için harekete geçen "ilk kazıcılar"ı anlatıyor. Bu noktada Pompeii ve Herculaneum insanlarıyla "kişi olarak ilişki kurup yakınlaştığımız" bir duygulanım yaşıyoruz. Napoléon Bonaparte'ın meşhur Mısır arkeoloji çıkarmasına ve bilim insanları ekibine geçiyoruz ardından ve 1800'lerde Mısır, kazıcılardan koleksiyonerlere birçok grubun nasıl da gözdesi oluyor, görüyoruz. Biliyorduk belki fakat burada hakikaten görüyoruz. Jean-François Champollion'a hiyeroglifleri çözüp Mısıroloji'yi kurarken, Flinders Petrie'ye sistematik yöntemleri geliştirirken bir kez daha hayran oluyoruz.
Ardından maceracılar dönemi geliyor ve elbette Heinrich Schliemann ile Troia'da ve Mykenai'de karşılaşıyoruz ve dünyanın farklı bölgelerinde Austen Henry Layard, Paul-Émile Botta gibi isimlerle. Fagan, bu zaman dilimini "arkeolojinin kahramanlık günleri" olarak şahane bir izlekle tanımlıyor: bilinmeyen eski uygarlıkları, henüz bir bilim olarak arkeoloji tam manasıyla oturmamışken, ortaya çıkarma hevesi. Bu sıralarda Üç Çağ Sistemi, tarih öncesi zamanlara dair bir sistematizasyonla, Christian Jürgensen Thomsen ve J. J. A. Worsaae ile karşımıza çıkıyor.
1870'lere geldik. Bu maceracılık ve koleksiyonerlik, Alman arkeologların Babylon ve Olympia kazılarıyla yavaş yavaş tozlu ama her daim bize yol gösterecek sayfalarda yerini almaya başlıyor. Arkeoloji, amatörlükten kurtuluyor; "meslekten arkeologlar" yetişip yetiştirmeye başlıyorlar. Gertrude Bell (Ürdün'de ve Irak'ta) ve Harriett Boyd Hawes (Girit'te) gibi isimler, arkeolojiyi bir erkek bilimi olmaktan çıkaran kadınlar olarak sahnedeki daimî yerlerini alıyorlar. Howard Carter, 1922'de Tutankhamon'a ulaşınca; Leonard Woolley, Ur'da (Irak) çığırlar açınca klasik kazılar dönemini kapatmış oluyoruz bir nevi. Meslekten arkeologlar meselesi, 1930'larla birlikte oturuyor. Çatalhöyük (James Mellaart, Ian Hodder), Stonehenge (William Stukeley, Vincent Gaffney, Michael Parker Pearson, Christopher Tilley) gibi alanlar; atalar kültlerinin yaşayanlar kültürlerine entegrasyonu ve zihnimizin mistisizminin sürekliliği yönünde bizi coşkuya sevk ediyor.
Arkeoloji, buradan itibaren yavaş yavaş, derin derin, emin adımlarla ilerlemeye başlıyor genel itibarıyla ve Mezopotamya, Akdeniz, Avrupa üçgeninden çıkarak küreselleşiyor. Gertrude Caton-Thompson'ın Büyük Zimbabve kazıları burada bir mil taşı oluyor. İlk tarım toplumlarının topografyası, Doğu Afrika'da araştırmalar yapan Leakey Ailesi'yle şekilleniyor. Sürdürülebilirlik ve uluslararasılık, ana meseleler haline geliyor.
Özellikle sık ormanlık alanların bulunduğu coğrafyalarda araştırma ve inceleme zorluğu ile ekiplerin bu disipline entegre ettiği (bilhassa Birinci Dünya Savaşı'ndan sonra gelişen) "müdahalesiz arkeoloji" teknikleriyle Angkor Wat ve Angkor Thom gibi, belki Mısır uygarlığından dahi görkemli Kmer İmparatorluğu ve kozmolojisi yapıtlarına ulaşıyoruz Kamboçya'da. LIDAR teknolojisi gözlerimizi fal taşı gibi açıyor. Burada kazı, cazibesini kaybediyor; yalnızca gereken açmalarda küçük küçük ilerleniyor fakat Christopher Tilley'nin "antik dönemin insanları nasıl baktıysa öyle incelemek" temalı fenomenolojisi de sıcak yöntemlerden hiç vazgeçmememizi sağlıyor.
Velhâsılıkelâm, "Arkeolojinin Kısa Tarihi", öyle bir hazine ki hem hemen hitama erdirmek hem de ondan hiç kopmamak istiyorsunuz. Bunu düşünürken de "Hakiki bir bilim insanı nasıl olmalı?" sorusunun cevaplarını olgunlaştırmış oluyorsunuz. Brian M. Fagan, okuruna yalnızca arkeolojik sit bilgisi sunmuyor, salt akademik bilgiye de boğmuyor onu. İçinden taştığını her satırında anladığımız tutkusu uyarınca "her yerdeki insan" mottosuyla tanımladığı bu disiplini eğrisiyle doğrusuyla, o "tekâmül"ü içinde dört başı mamur bir biçimde anlatıyor. Ne hap kitap ne ağır bir terminoloji zerki. Yavaş yavaş, sindire sindire, altını çize çize ve not ala ala ilerlemek gerekiyor.
Kitabı okurken post-it'lerim bitmek üzereydi. Hem her bölümün başına hem de içindekiler listesine ve hem kendi dijital defterime not alarak ilerledim. Benim gibi, alanla çok uzun zamandır ilgileniyor olsanız da ya da bu disipline ilginiz nispeten yeni yeni filizleniyor olsa da size her manada çok şey katacak bir çalışma ve bu "çok şey"den en önemlisi kapsamlı bakışınızı ve eş zamanlı okumalarınızı geliştirebilmek. Bildiklerinizle karşılaştığınız sayfalarda yaşadığınız heyecan da cabası. Çevirisi ve edisyonu da oldukça doyurucu bu eseri, zannediyorum, hep yanı başımda tutacağım.
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“Arkeoloji, neden benzer ve neden farklı olduğumuzu açıklamaya hizmet ediyor. Arkeoloji, hangi yollarla uyum sağladığımızı açıklıyor. Arkeoloji, bugünden geçmişe bakarak geleceğe bakmamızı sağlıyor. Ve her yıl, yeni keşifler ve teknolojik ilerlemeler, eski insanların gözüyle bakmayı, neredeyse onlarla konuşacak kadar yakınlaşmayı kolaylaştırıyor.
(…)
O halde bir daha arkeolojik bir alanı ziyaret edecek olursanız bırakın, hayal gücünüz uçsun.”
Ardından maceracılar dönemi geliyor ve elbette Heinrich Schliemann ile Troia'da ve Mykenai'de karşılaşıyoruz ve dünyanın farklı bölgelerinde Austen Henry Layard, Paul-Émile Botta gibi isimlerle. Fagan, bu zaman dilimini "arkeolojinin kahramanlık günleri" olarak şahane bir izlekle tanımlıyor: bilinmeyen eski uygarlıkları, henüz bir bilim olarak arkeoloji tam manasıyla oturmamışken, ortaya çıkarma hevesi. Bu sıralarda Üç Çağ Sistemi, tarih öncesi zamanlara dair bir sistematizasyonla, Christian Jürgensen Thomsen ve J. J. A. Worsaae ile karşımıza çıkıyor.
1870'lere geldik. Bu maceracılık ve koleksiyonerlik, Alman arkeologların Babylon ve Olympia kazılarıyla yavaş yavaş tozlu ama her daim bize yol gösterecek sayfalarda yerini almaya başlıyor. Arkeoloji, amatörlükten kurtuluyor; "meslekten arkeologlar" yetişip yetiştirmeye başlıyorlar. Gertrude Bell (Ürdün'de ve Irak'ta) ve Harriett Boyd Hawes (Girit'te) gibi isimler, arkeolojiyi bir erkek bilimi olmaktan çıkaran kadınlar olarak sahnedeki daimî yerlerini alıyorlar. Howard Carter, 1922'de Tutankhamon'a ulaşınca; Leonard Woolley, Ur'da (Irak) çığırlar açınca klasik kazılar dönemini kapatmış oluyoruz bir nevi. Meslekten arkeologlar meselesi, 1930'larla birlikte oturuyor. Çatalhöyük (James Mellaart, Ian Hodder), Stonehenge (William Stukeley, Vincent Gaffney, Michael Parker Pearson, Christopher Tilley) gibi alanlar; atalar kültlerinin yaşayanlar kültürlerine entegrasyonu ve zihnimizin mistisizminin sürekliliği yönünde bizi coşkuya sevk ediyor.
Arkeoloji, buradan itibaren yavaş yavaş, derin derin, emin adımlarla ilerlemeye başlıyor genel itibarıyla ve Mezopotamya, Akdeniz, Avrupa üçgeninden çıkarak küreselleşiyor. Gertrude Caton-Thompson'ın Büyük Zimbabve kazıları burada bir mil taşı oluyor. İlk tarım toplumlarının topografyası, Doğu Afrika'da araştırmalar yapan Leakey Ailesi'yle şekilleniyor. Sürdürülebilirlik ve uluslararasılık, ana meseleler haline geliyor.
Özellikle sık ormanlık alanların bulunduğu coğrafyalarda araştırma ve inceleme zorluğu ile ekiplerin bu disipline entegre ettiği (bilhassa Birinci Dünya Savaşı'ndan sonra gelişen) "müdahalesiz arkeoloji" teknikleriyle Angkor Wat ve Angkor Thom gibi, belki Mısır uygarlığından dahi görkemli Kmer İmparatorluğu ve kozmolojisi yapıtlarına ulaşıyoruz Kamboçya'da. LIDAR teknolojisi gözlerimizi fal taşı gibi açıyor. Burada kazı, cazibesini kaybediyor; yalnızca gereken açmalarda küçük küçük ilerleniyor fakat Christopher Tilley'nin "antik dönemin insanları nasıl baktıysa öyle incelemek" temalı fenomenolojisi de sıcak yöntemlerden hiç vazgeçmememizi sağlıyor.
Velhâsılıkelâm, "Arkeolojinin Kısa Tarihi", öyle bir hazine ki hem hemen hitama erdirmek hem de ondan hiç kopmamak istiyorsunuz. Bunu düşünürken de "Hakiki bir bilim insanı nasıl olmalı?" sorusunun cevaplarını olgunlaştırmış oluyorsunuz. Brian M. Fagan, okuruna yalnızca arkeolojik sit bilgisi sunmuyor, salt akademik bilgiye de boğmuyor onu. İçinden taştığını her satırında anladığımız tutkusu uyarınca "her yerdeki insan" mottosuyla tanımladığı bu disiplini eğrisiyle doğrusuyla, o "tekâmül"ü içinde dört başı mamur bir biçimde anlatıyor. Ne hap kitap ne ağır bir terminoloji zerki. Yavaş yavaş, sindire sindire, altını çize çize ve not ala ala ilerlemek gerekiyor.
Kitabı okurken post-it'lerim bitmek üzereydi. Hem her bölümün başına hem de içindekiler listesine ve hem kendi dijital defterime not alarak ilerledim. Benim gibi, alanla çok uzun zamandır ilgileniyor olsanız da ya da bu disipline ilginiz nispeten yeni yeni filizleniyor olsa da size her manada çok şey katacak bir çalışma ve bu "çok şey"den en önemlisi kapsamlı bakışınızı ve eş zamanlı okumalarınızı geliştirebilmek. Bildiklerinizle karşılaştığınız sayfalarda yaşadığınız heyecan da cabası. Çevirisi ve edisyonu da oldukça doyurucu bu eseri, zannediyorum, hep yanı başımda tutacağım.
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“Arkeoloji, neden benzer ve neden farklı olduğumuzu açıklamaya hizmet ediyor. Arkeoloji, hangi yollarla uyum sağladığımızı açıklıyor. Arkeoloji, bugünden geçmişe bakarak geleceğe bakmamızı sağlıyor. Ve her yıl, yeni keşifler ve teknolojik ilerlemeler, eski insanların gözüyle bakmayı, neredeyse onlarla konuşacak kadar yakınlaşmayı kolaylaştırıyor.
(…)
O halde bir daha arkeolojik bir alanı ziyaret edecek olursanız bırakın, hayal gücünüz uçsun.”
March 10, 2023
I remember distinctly the moment little me decided she wanted to be an archaeologist. We were watching a documentary about Ancient Egypt, as one does, and I was simply in awe of the people uncovering all this beauty and wisdom from the past. And so, I thought, my future should be spent doing the same. Admittedly, it didn't quite come to that. But the fascination with archaeology remained and so Fagan's 'A Little History of Archaeology' was the perfect read for me.
First, a quick note on the 'Little Histories' series. I love that these books exist, giving readers an informed but manageable introduction to a broad variety of topics. These books are very approachable without giving the idea that you're being talked down to in any way. While it is no doubt entry-level for someone with actual experience in archaeology, this book held loads of new information for someone like myself who devours archaeology documentaries. This book doesn't just cover the basics, it also gives an insight into the academic field of archaeology, the methodological rigor of the whole undertaking, and its fraught history. There is a lot of information in this "little" book, which means it is not necessarily something you'll want to race through in an afternoon. But as I said above, the writing style is excellent and makes it all digestible. I was especially pleased by the sections devoted to female archaeologists and to the colonial history of archeology, or rather the way imperialism, colonialism, and racism have impacted archaeology and vice versa.
Of course the nature of the 'Little Histories' series does limit Fagan in a way. This book can't go as deep as some might like, it cannot even attempt to give a "full" history of the field or even cover everything it does in depth. But that is where reader responsibility also comes in, i.e. know what it is you're about to read. As the blurb says, this book is intended to give you a taste of the field, an introduction to some of its highlights, and an understanding of its low points. This is meant to be a starting point for anyone truly curious in the field, not an in-depth guide. As such, it is more of an impression than a factual rendering. But Fagan does what he sets out to do perfectly and I think this book would have only strengthened the conviction of younger me that archaeology was the field for me!
First, a quick note on the 'Little Histories' series. I love that these books exist, giving readers an informed but manageable introduction to a broad variety of topics. These books are very approachable without giving the idea that you're being talked down to in any way. While it is no doubt entry-level for someone with actual experience in archaeology, this book held loads of new information for someone like myself who devours archaeology documentaries. This book doesn't just cover the basics, it also gives an insight into the academic field of archaeology, the methodological rigor of the whole undertaking, and its fraught history. There is a lot of information in this "little" book, which means it is not necessarily something you'll want to race through in an afternoon. But as I said above, the writing style is excellent and makes it all digestible. I was especially pleased by the sections devoted to female archaeologists and to the colonial history of archeology, or rather the way imperialism, colonialism, and racism have impacted archaeology and vice versa.
Of course the nature of the 'Little Histories' series does limit Fagan in a way. This book can't go as deep as some might like, it cannot even attempt to give a "full" history of the field or even cover everything it does in depth. But that is where reader responsibility also comes in, i.e. know what it is you're about to read. As the blurb says, this book is intended to give you a taste of the field, an introduction to some of its highlights, and an understanding of its low points. This is meant to be a starting point for anyone truly curious in the field, not an in-depth guide. As such, it is more of an impression than a factual rendering. But Fagan does what he sets out to do perfectly and I think this book would have only strengthened the conviction of younger me that archaeology was the field for me!
June 10, 2018
Key advances and artefacts in the science of archaeology.
It's very interesting for someone unaware of the development and timeline of archaeology. Forty names, dates and places that advanced the science, that gave clues about the past to the world and helped us learn more about our own story.
From the defining moment in The Valley of the Kings we go backwards to the start of the digs to present day technologies and with everything in between - female archaeologists, advances in techniques, stories from all around the world combine to the great narration of the discipline.
I found the short chapters kept my interest, though there were a lot of names to try and keep track of when listening to the audiobook. The narrator did a grand job of making it an absorbing choice, and I liked the roughly chronological nature of the writing, moving from early days to latest advances. There was nothing here that didn't work as an audiobook, though if there are illustrations at all, I have missed them and am none the wiser.
Very informative, lots of appetite-whetting and I'll be looking up some of the stories and names to learn more.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
It's very interesting for someone unaware of the development and timeline of archaeology. Forty names, dates and places that advanced the science, that gave clues about the past to the world and helped us learn more about our own story.
From the defining moment in The Valley of the Kings we go backwards to the start of the digs to present day technologies and with everything in between - female archaeologists, advances in techniques, stories from all around the world combine to the great narration of the discipline.
I found the short chapters kept my interest, though there were a lot of names to try and keep track of when listening to the audiobook. The narrator did a grand job of making it an absorbing choice, and I liked the roughly chronological nature of the writing, moving from early days to latest advances. There was nothing here that didn't work as an audiobook, though if there are illustrations at all, I have missed them and am none the wiser.
Very informative, lots of appetite-whetting and I'll be looking up some of the stories and names to learn more.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
December 9, 2018
The title doesn't lie, but it's mainly focused on history as in events/figures not history as in a progression of ideas in a field. It's still OK. Maybe I got some ideas for further reading.
Likes:
*goes through the different periods and major discoveries,
*talks about women in archaeology,
*the last couple of chapters have some more detailed information on methods.
Dislikes:
* the narrator of the audiobook, super clear, but difficult to follow somehow
* loads and loads of names
* talks about people more than archaeology. It starts off with a person who made a discovery or advancement or sth (great), but then only says like one sentence about the actual method followed up with the life story of said person. Didn't paint a picture for me. But maybe that's my problem.
*I don't know who the audience for this book would be. It does not give enough information on archaeology to teach anything much to anyone with a high school education (besides names). It is not for young people, the style is pretty verbose and it would probably be sort of boring for teens. Maybe for people who want a quick overview of famous archaeologists?
Likes:
*goes through the different periods and major discoveries,
*talks about women in archaeology,
*the last couple of chapters have some more detailed information on methods.
Dislikes:
* the narrator of the audiobook, super clear, but difficult to follow somehow
* loads and loads of names
* talks about people more than archaeology. It starts off with a person who made a discovery or advancement or sth (great), but then only says like one sentence about the actual method followed up with the life story of said person. Didn't paint a picture for me. But maybe that's my problem.
*I don't know who the audience for this book would be. It does not give enough information on archaeology to teach anything much to anyone with a high school education (besides names). It is not for young people, the style is pretty verbose and it would probably be sort of boring for teens. Maybe for people who want a quick overview of famous archaeologists?
October 16, 2020
Just finished this one. The author is a famous one in archaeological world and is a hardworker. Great storytelling and fun. Hence, you get wrapped in the story before you know it, however, in its theoretical scope, it is full of emperialist and modernist affirmations. Therefore, in terms of history making one must attend to it carefully and beware this while reading it. Nonetheless I’d advise everyone who’s curious in the subject:)
June 7, 2018
Good book. I have been interested in archaeology my whole life, and this book was fun as it was small chapters starting from the earliest archaeologists and discovered places up to now and how studying ancient civilizations has changed. This is a great introductory book as it does cover so many people and places. Highly recommend.
August 24, 2019
This book is a gold mine of information! If you love history, and are interested in archaeology, then this is a must read! I loved every single page! From cultures that we are familiar with, to some that are much less known, Brian Fagan takes us on a journey from the beginning of archaeology to modern techniques.
Absolutely engaging and informative!
Absolutely engaging and informative!
May 18, 2018
An interesting and informative look into the history of archaeology. Presented in a way that will appeal to both adults and children alike. Anyone with an interest in history and archaeology will find this a good read.
September 30, 2018
A little slow, especially in the middle, but ends well....
January 13, 2020
Quite a good read for someone wanting an introduction into the history of archeology. It is easy to read and engaging, although sometimes lacking in depth and style.
May 13, 2024
Feel a little smarter now, but must admit this was a kind of boring.
October 9, 2023
Great introduction to Archaelogy. A great story of the study is given, that is exciting and has inspired further reading/research!
March 23, 2025
Actual score: 3.5. This book would be a 4 star if only it went in depth a bit more and likewise included pictures or sketches. Regardless, great introduction to archeology.
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