An Archaeology of the English Atlantic World, 1600 - 1700

Charles E. Orser, Jr, Research Professor at Vanderbilt University, Tennessee, is an anthropological historical archaeologist who investigates the modern world as it was created after about 1492. He has conducted excavations in the United States, Europe, and South America and is the author of over ninety professional articles and several books, including Historical Archaeology (3rd edition, 2016) and The Archaeology of Race and Racialization in Historic America (2007). He is also the founder and editor of the International Journal of Historical Archaeology.

'Orser's book is truly a pleasure to read. He presents an informative and entertaining review of the archaeology of the English Atlantic World in a refreshing and engaging way. In 486 pages, Orser creates a foundation on which to weave his interpretation of the material world of England, Ireland, Coastal Africa, and eastern Native America. After providing a firm foundation of trade, discovery, and theory, he expands in the second part, which reviews the material culture of boats, fixed and portable material worlds. Throughout the work the author maintains a unique perspective while addressing the finds and connections across local and more global settings. The work contains over 30 figures and 25 tables, which add to the narrative and provide visual insight. The author's knowledge and experience help the reader to understand and see the connection between historical archaeology and its global impact and significance. This is a highly recommended work for anyone interested in historical archaeology and archaeology in general.​' Choice

• Part I. Foundations of the Seventeenth-Century English Atlantic World: 1. Archaeology and the seventeenth-century English material world in the Atlantic; 2. The material world of seventeenth-century England; 3. The material worlds of seventeenth-century Ireland, coastal Africa, and Native America; Part II. The Seventeenth-Century English Atlantic World: 4. Atlantic material culture: boats, ships, and navigation; 5. Tracing the ideological haunts in the seventeenth-century English world; 6. The fixed material world of the seventeenth-century English Atlantic; 7. The portable material world of the seventeenth-century English Atlantic; Part III. Archaeology and Early Modern History: 8. Archaeology and the modern world.