Contemporary archaeology

Author: Chen Chun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-10-01
Features: Archaeology is partly the search for ancient treasures, partly the meticulous inquiry of scientists, and partly the creative imagination. It is both the hard work of excavation under the scorching sun in the Iraqi desert, the observation of Eskimos in the ice and snow of Alaska, the underwater exploration of Spanish sunken ships in the waters of Florida, and the survey in the Roman-era sewers of York. It is also the arduous work of interpretation to understand the significance of these efforts and discoveries in human history. Therefore, archaeology is both physical labor in the field and the intellectual creation in study and laboratory. This is precisely where the great charm of archaeology lies. This book attempts to stand on the development of contemporary archaeological science and comprehensively introduces the origin, development, basic concepts, fundamental methods, current research status, and new exploration fields of this discipline, primarily targeting college students aspiring to the field of cultural relics and archaeology, as well as general readers interested in archaeology. In addition to introducing the basic knowledge of this discipline, the last part of the book conveys to readers the message that all archaeological materials and ancient sites are our valuable cultural heritage and non-renewable resources. Once they are destroyed or lost, they will become irreparable losses forever. Today, economic construction, urban renewal, and infrastructure projects are destroying tens of thousands of ancient sites worldwide. Without well-preserved sites and relics, archaeologists cannot fully understand fragments of history and reconstruct the truth of the past. The task of archaeology is not only to study and reconstruct our history in detail but also, more importantly, to preserve the past for the future of humanity.