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Beginner's Guide to Archaeology by Louis A. Brennan ➤ Stackpole Books 1973
Beginner's Guide to Archaeology: The Modern Digger's Step-By-Step Introduction to the Expert Ways of Unearthing the Past by Louis A. Brennan Stackpole Books 1973
Title: Beginner's Guide to Archaeology: The Modern Digger's Step-By-Step Introduction to the Expert Ways of Unearthing the Past
Author: Louis A. Brennan
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Stackpole Books 1973
Edition: None Stated
ISBN 10: 0811704181
Size: 7.25 X 10 * 318 pages
Synopsis: From the Jacket: Beginner's Guide to Archaeology introduces the budding professional, the citizen archaeologist, conservationist, ecologist, inveterate problem solver, or the just plain seeker of heritage to the acceptable ways of finding, surveying, and testing sites and removing, preserving, analyzing, recording, and reporting the artifacts of man's prior times in America.
Drawing on his several decades as a citizen digger (he has written two previously published books dealing with specifics of archaeology in the Western Hemisphere and two others on more universal aspects of prehistory), Mr. Brennan brings together here, in significant detail, the techniques and background that, properly applied, will allow anyone to discover, uncover, and preserve for the future, anything that adds to our understanding of life before our times.
Beginning with an explanation of why and how the professional and citizen archaeologist should work together, Mr. Brennan then moves on to a more detailed look at how the archaeologist works- an introduction to the five steps in the archaeological process-followed by a discussion of man's 40,000 years in the Western Hemisphere.
Picking up where other how-to-do-archaeology books leave off (they confine themselves to the techniques of digging), this beginner's handbook stresses the importance of the relationship between survey, test, digging, recording, study-analysis, and reporting, providing, of course, details of professional how-to in each instance. This comes through clearly in the chapters covering the finding and recognition of sites, excavation procedures, deciphering finds, recognizing and exposing features and artifacts, establishing antiquity, classifying, cataloging, and writing good reports.
Completing this unique guide to understanding yesteryear and the importance of finding and preserving its clues is a rundown on the main currents in archaeology today-explaining finds rather than merely counting and measuring, becoming an expert on pottery and projectile points, key concepts for placing sites chronologically and geographically within a cultural tradition, finding and using relevant literature-and on the making and unmaking of archaeological doctrine...how new discoveries force changes in theories. Three helpful appendices point the reader toward existing prehistoric Indian sites, monuments, and restorations, arranged by state and province; museums with prominent archaeological collections; names and addresses of state and provincial archaeological societies and journals, state archaeologists, colleges with courses in Western archaeology, and state laws on archaeological activity.
For those who want to do, Beginner's Guide to Archaeology is an indispensable starting point. For the dreamers-of-doing, the fascinated, or the concerned citizen it provides in-depth understanding and appreciation for the attempts to save more of our past from the unfeeling blades of today's bulldozers.
about the author-Louis A. Brennan is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Notre Dame, has been a professional writer, editor, and journalist for most of his adult life, and is presently editor of the Croton-Cortlandt News, a weekly newspaper. He was drawn to archaeology after he returned from World War II (he was the commanding officer of a gunboat in the Pacific and saw Hiroshima) with a heightened awareness of the diversity and continuity of the human race. After the publication of five novels, one of which, The Long Knife, was set in the pioneer period of the Ohio country during the time of Indian troubles, he wrote his first account of American archaeology, No Stone Unturned: An Almanac of North American Prehistory (Random House). Subsequently he wrote The Buried Treasure of Archaeology for Random House and, in 1970, American Dawn, A New Model of American Prehistory (Macmillan). Between the latter two books Macmillan issued the novel Tree of Arrows, about the formation of the Great League of the Iroquois. In work at the moment is a book on the migrations of men and races throughout prehistory, tentatively titled Conquest of Planet Earth.
Mr. Brennan has been editor of the New York State Archaeological Association Bulletin, the Association's journal of reports, for the past 15 years and editor of the Eastern States Archeological Federation's Bulletin, the journal of proceedings for ESAF. In 1972 he was named to edit the new ESAF publication, Archaeology of Eastern North America. For the past 20 years he has contributed regularly to these and other archaeological journals. He is director of the Center for Hudson Valley Archaeology at Briarcliff College, a founding member of the Middle Atlantic State Archaeological Conference, and a member of the New York State Archaeological Council, the organization of field archaeologists in the state. For the past 15 years he has been NYSAA representative to ESAF. He lectures frequently on American archaeology.
The illustrations used in Beginner's Guide to Archaeology were made by and under the direction of Dr. Harold Simmons, Professor of Art History and Archaeology at Briarcliff College, and author of Archaeological Photography (NYU Press). He is a member of the MAAC and NYAC and is affiliated with the Center for Hudson Valley Archaeology.
Overall Condition: Very good: The book does not look new and has been read but is in excellent condition. There is no obvious damage to the cover and the dust jacket is included. There are no missing or damaged pages, no creases or tears, and no underlining/highlighting of text or writing in the margins. It may have very minimal identifying marks on the inside cover as well as very minimal wear and tear; see images.
Secure shipping bubble-wrapped in a new box/mailer.
2026--U.S. shipping for this (Three Pounds Media Mail) is $5.97 with tracking.
Multiple items will be combined for the lowest shipping price.
International Shipping cost is based on the destination so inquire before buying. Mobile users must scroll to the bottom and click on 'use desktop site' to bring up the Ask a Question link which sends me an email.
(PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT FROM OUTSIDE THE U.S.)
==========================================================================================================================
Just about all the books are USED books. Some have been used more gently than others. Some have been in libraries and have typical library extras. Some are so old and/or interesting that they are being offered for the sake of preservation regardless of the condition they are in. If the condition of the book is very important to you, please feel free to click the 'Ask seller a question' link and I will tell you more.
=========================================================================================
Title: Beginner's Guide to Archaeology: The Modern Digger's Step-By-Step Introduction to the Expert Ways of Unearthing the Past
Author: Louis A. Brennan
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Stackpole Books 1973
Edition: None Stated
ISBN 10: 0811704181
Size: 7.25 X 10 * 318 pages
Synopsis: From the Jacket: Beginner's Guide to Archaeology introduces the budding professional, the citizen archaeologist, conservationist, ecologist, inveterate problem solver, or the just plain seeker of heritage to the acceptable ways of finding, surveying, and testing sites and removing, preserving, analyzing, recording, and reporting the artifacts of man's prior times in America.
Drawing on his several decades as a citizen digger (he has written two previously published books dealing with specifics of archaeology in the Western Hemisphere and two others on more universal aspects of prehistory), Mr. Brennan brings together here, in significant detail, the techniques and background that, properly applied, will allow anyone to discover, uncover, and preserve for the future, anything that adds to our understanding of life before our times.
Beginning with an explanation of why and how the professional and citizen archaeologist should work together, Mr. Brennan then moves on to a more detailed look at how the archaeologist works- an introduction to the five steps in the archaeological process-followed by a discussion of man's 40,000 years in the Western Hemisphere.
Picking up where other how-to-do-archaeology books leave off (they confine themselves to the techniques of digging), this beginner's handbook stresses the importance of the relationship between survey, test, digging, recording, study-analysis, and reporting, providing, of course, details of professional how-to in each instance. This comes through clearly in the chapters covering the finding and recognition of sites, excavation procedures, deciphering finds, recognizing and exposing features and artifacts, establishing antiquity, classifying, cataloging, and writing good reports.
Completing this unique guide to understanding yesteryear and the importance of finding and preserving its clues is a rundown on the main currents in archaeology today-explaining finds rather than merely counting and measuring, becoming an expert on pottery and projectile points, key concepts for placing sites chronologically and geographically within a cultural tradition, finding and using relevant literature-and on the making and unmaking of archaeological doctrine...how new discoveries force changes in theories. Three helpful appendices point the reader toward existing prehistoric Indian sites, monuments, and restorations, arranged by state and province; museums with prominent archaeological collections; names and addresses of state and provincial archaeological societies and journals, state archaeologists, colleges with courses in Western archaeology, and state laws on archaeological activity.
For those who want to do, Beginner's Guide to Archaeology is an indispensable starting point. For the dreamers-of-doing, the fascinated, or the concerned citizen it provides in-depth understanding and appreciation for the attempts to save more of our past from the unfeeling blades of today's bulldozers.
about the author-Louis A. Brennan is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Notre Dame, has been a professional writer, editor, and journalist for most of his adult life, and is presently editor of the Croton-Cortlandt News, a weekly newspaper. He was drawn to archaeology after he returned from World War II (he was the commanding officer of a gunboat in the Pacific and saw Hiroshima) with a heightened awareness of the diversity and continuity of the human race. After the publication of five novels, one of which, The Long Knife, was set in the pioneer period of the Ohio country during the time of Indian troubles, he wrote his first account of American archaeology, No Stone Unturned: An Almanac of North American Prehistory (Random House). Subsequently he wrote The Buried Treasure of Archaeology for Random House and, in 1970, American Dawn, A New Model of American Prehistory (Macmillan). Between the latter two books Macmillan issued the novel Tree of Arrows, about the formation of the Great League of the Iroquois. In work at the moment is a book on the migrations of men and races throughout prehistory, tentatively titled Conquest of Planet Earth.
Mr. Brennan has been editor of the New York State Archaeological Association Bulletin, the Association's journal of reports, for the past 15 years and editor of the Eastern States Archeological Federation's Bulletin, the journal of proceedings for ESAF. In 1972 he was named to edit the new ESAF publication, Archaeology of Eastern North America. For the past 20 years he has contributed regularly to these and other archaeological journals. He is director of the Center for Hudson Valley Archaeology at Briarcliff College, a founding member of the Middle Atlantic State Archaeological Conference, and a member of the New York State Archaeological Council, the organization of field archaeologists in the state. For the past 15 years he has been NYSAA representative to ESAF. He lectures frequently on American archaeology.
The illustrations used in Beginner's Guide to Archaeology were made by and under the direction of Dr. Harold Simmons, Professor of Art History and Archaeology at Briarcliff College, and author of Archaeological Photography (NYU Press). He is a member of the MAAC and NYAC and is affiliated with the Center for Hudson Valley Archaeology.
Overall Condition: Very good: The book does not look new and has been read but is in excellent condition. There is no obvious damage to the cover and the dust jacket is included. There are no missing or damaged pages, no creases or tears, and no underlining/highlighting of text or writing in the margins. It may have very minimal identifying marks on the inside cover as well as very minimal wear and tear; see images.
Secure shipping bubble-wrapped in a new box/mailer.
2026--U.S. shipping for this (Three Pounds Media Mail) is $5.97 with tracking.
Multiple items will be combined for the lowest shipping price.
International Shipping cost is based on the destination so inquire before buying. Mobile users must scroll to the bottom and click on 'use desktop site' to bring up the Ask a Question link which sends me an email.
(PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT FROM OUTSIDE THE U.S.)
==========================================================================================================================
Just about all the books are USED books. Some have been used more gently than others. Some have been in libraries and have typical library extras. Some are so old and/or interesting that they are being offered for the sake of preservation regardless of the condition they are in. If the condition of the book is very important to you, please feel free to click the 'Ask seller a question' link and I will tell you more.
=========================================================================================
