Stahl

African Archaeology

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

African Archaeology: A Critical Introduction fills a crucial gap by providing a multi-authored introduction to the archaeology of Africa that challenges misconceptions and claims about Africa's past, and teaches students how to evaluate these claims. Ann Stahl's thoughtful introduction explores the contexts that have shaped archaeological knowledge of Africa's past and asks readers to consider for whom Africa's past matters and why. African Archaeology comprises unique contributions by prominent archaeologists with regional and topical expertise. They explore the preoccupations and assumptions that have framed research, assess the quality and reliability of evidence, and chart emerging research directions and questions that can help build on the strengths of earlier work, while finally setting aside long-held misperceptions. African Archaeology is a landmark volume and an indispensable tool for students, instructors, and researchers.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: John Wiley & Sons
• Seitenzahl: 508
• Erscheinungstermin: 17. September 2004
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 244mm x 170mm x 28mm
• Gewicht: 867g
• ISBN-13: 9781405101561
• ISBN-10: 1405101563
• Artikelnr.: 22160728

Autorenporträt

Ann Brower Stahl is Professor of Anthropology at Binghamton University, SUNY

Inhaltsangabe

Series Editors' Preface.

Figures.

Tables.

Notes on Contributors.

1 Introduction. Changing Perspectives on Africa's Pasts:Ann Brower Stahl (State University of New York at Binghamton).

2 Barbarous Tribes and Unrewarding Gyrations? The Changing Roleof Ethnographic Imagination in African Archaeology: Paul J. Lane(British Institute in Eastern Africa).

3 Discord after Discard. Reconstructing Aspects of OldowanHominin Behavior: Thomas Plummer (City University of New York).

4 The Middle and Upper Pleistocene African Record for theBiological and Behavioral Origins of Modern Humans: Curtis W.Marean and Zelalem Assefa (Arizona State University; SUNY at StonyBrook.

5 A Late Pleistocene Archive of Life at the Coast, KlasiesRiver: H. J. Deacon and Sarah Wurz (University of Stellenbosch;University of Stellenbosch).

6 Modeling Later Stone Age Societies in Southern Africa: PeterMitchell (University of Oxford).

7 Holocene "Aquatic" Adaptations in North TropicalAfrica: Augustin F. C. Holl (University of Michigan).

8 Pastoralism and its Consequences: Diane Gifford-Gonzalez(University of California, Santa Cruz).

9 Holocene Occupations of the Forest and Savanna: Joanna Casey(University of South Carolina).

10 The Romance of Farming--Plant Cultivation and Domesticationin Africa: Katharina Neumann (J. W. Goethe-Universität).

11 Metallurgy and its Consequences: S. Terry Childs and EugeniaW. Herbert (National Park Service, Mount Holyoke College).

12 The Bantu Problem and African Archaeology: Manfred Eggert(Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte und Archäologiedes Mittelalters).

13 The Archaeology of Sub-Saharan Urbanism: Cities and theirCountrysides: Adria LaViolette and Jeff Fleisher (University ofVirginia; University of Virginia).

14 Interaction, Marginalization, and the Archaeology of theKalahari: Andrew Reid (University College London).

15 Southern Africa and the East African Coast: Gilbert Pwiti(University of Zimbabwe).

16 Mosaics and Interactions: East Africa, 2000 B.P. to thePresent: Chapurukha M. Kusimba and Sibel B. Kusimba (The FieldMuseum, Chicago; Northern Illinois University).

17 From Pottery Groups to Ethnic Groups in Central Africa:Pierre de Maret (Université Libre de Bruxelles).

18 Two Thousand Years of West African History: Scott MacEachern(Bowdoin College).

Index

Rezensionen

"Ann Stahl has brought together a set of researchers at theheight of their powers and incited them to write chapters thatbring home to readers the challenge of the archaeologicalenterprise. This is the book I would give as a text toseniors and to which I would constantly refer if teaching thearchaeology of sub-Saharan Africa to students of any and alllevels."
Nicholas David, University of Calgary

"This book moves beyond the usual seamless syntheses andlooks critically at the quality of the evidence, the questionsasked and unasked, and how these have been fashioned intonarratives about the African past. It is a unique and indispensableresource for Africanist archaeologists, historians, and students ofthese disciplines." Susan McIntosh, RiceUniversity

"I have long desired a text for African archaeology thatpresents a summary of African prehistory while highlighting theresearch questions and debates that make the study of the Africanpast exciting; that book is now available. The book'scoverage of sub-Saharan Africa is exemplary."
Peter Robertshaw, California State University, SanBernardino

"This book is a showcase for African Archaeology and deserves aplace on the bookshelves of all who teach world archaeology, aswell as those who study biodiversity of wild and domesticresources, or care about the linguistics or history of Africa. Irecommend 'African Archaeology' to you enthusiastically."
Journal of African Archaeology

"This book achieves its main goals admirably. The twenty-threecontributing authors (African, European, and North American) areall specialists in their respected fields... The individualchapters are remarkably consistent in tone, which I suspect shows astrong editorial hand, and really do summarize not only vastamounts of information, but also the current debates aroundsignificance and interpretation of the archaeological record. It isdifficult to imagine a more comprehensive introduction withoutresorting to an encyclopedia format. The references are copious andup-to-date, which will make this a valuable resource for bothlecturers and students."
African Studies Review

"The great strength of the volume is its critical stance.Evidence is presented within its context, warts and all, not as'the final truth'... The geographic coverage is remarkable...Insummary, African Archaeology: A Critical Introduction is asuccess. It does exactly what its name suggests: leading studentsby example in evaluating evidence, and dismissing long-heldmisconceptions about the African past."
African History

"A most welcome addition to the few available text-bookson archaeologies of the African continent."
HOMO

"The first ... stated objective ... [is] to givesome account of the breadth of history ... .The book does soadmirably well." H-Net Reviews