Archaeologist's Toolkit – serie

Volumes may also be purchased separately. The Archaeologist's Toolkit is an integrated set of seven volumes designed to teach novice archaeologists and students the basics of doing archaeology. Students are led through the process of designing a study, doing survey work, excavating, properly working with artifacts and biological remains, curating their materials, and presenting findings to various audiences. The volumes—written by experienced field archaeologists—are full of practical advice, tips, case studies, and illustrations to help the reader. All of this is done with careful attention to promoting a conservation ethic and an understanding of the legal and practical environment of contemporary American cultural resource laws and regulations. The Toolkit is an essential resource for anyone working in the field and ideal for training archaeology students in classrooms and field schools.Volume 1:Archaeology By DesignBy Stephen L. Black and Kevin Jolly (both at University of Texas)Volume 2:Archaeological SurveyBy James L. Collins (Office of the State Archaeologist, University of Iowa) and Brian Leigh Molyneaux (University of South Dakota)Volume 3:ExcavationBy David L. Carmichael (University of Texas, El Paso), Robert Lafferty III (Mid-Continental Research Associates), and Brian Leigh Molyneaux (University of South Dakota)Volume 4:ArtifactsBy Charles R. Ewen (East Carolina University)Volume 5:ArchaeobiologyBy Kristin D. Sobolik (University of Maine)Volume 6:Curating Archaeological CollectionsBy Lynne P. Sullivan (University of Tennessee, Knoxville) and Terry S. Childs (National Park Service)Volume 7:Presenting the PastBy Larry J. Zimmerman (Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis)

Excavation is traditionally considered the heart of the archaeological enterprise. But it is an activity transformed over the past two decades of increasingly contract-based work. Carmichael and Lafferty lay out the basics of this brand of excavation for the novice reader in this handy, practical guide. After outlining the ethical concerns in archaeological excavation and the history of the endeavor, the authors walk the reader through the steps of contemporary excavation—site identification, remote sensing, test excavation, and various scales of recovery. They also deal with the complex issues of human burials uncovered in excavation. Written in an accessible, practical way, Carmichael and Lafferty's guide will be useful to students, field school attendees, and other novice fieldworkers.

Archaeology doesn't just happen. With large numbers of people involved, the complex logistics of fieldwork, funding needed for projects of any size, and a bewildering set of legal regulations and ethical norms to follow, a well-run archaeological project requires careful and detailed planning. In this reader-friendly guide, Black and Jolly give novice researchers invaluable practical advice on the process of designing successful field projects. Encompassing both directed academic and directed CRM projects, they outline the elements needed in your professional toolkit, show step-by-step how an archaeological project proceeds, focus on developing appropriate research questions and theoretical models, and address implementation issues from NAGPRA regulations down to estimating the number of shovels to toss into the pickup. Sidebars explain important topics like the Section 106 process, the importance of ethnology and geology to archaeologists, OSHA requirements, and how to assess significance. Archaeology by Design is an ideal starting point for giving students and novices the big picture of a contemporary archaeological project.

Two longtime fieldworkers offer mentors' advice on finding and mapping archaeological sites. They outline the logic behind field surveying and the various designs used for survey projects. Recognizing that logistical issues—like schedule, budget, and equipment—are equally important to complete the job, particularly in a cultural resource management context, the authors also guide new professionals through the practical details of their work. The volume also ranges through the legal and ethical context of fieldwork and the various geophysical methods available for non-intrusive surveying. As a handy guide for novices, or a text for students and field schools, Collins and Molyneaux's book will be the place to start.

How can you ensure that you are learning everything your artifacts have to teach you? Charles Ewen explores a variety of methods and techniques used to prepare, protect, and analyze artifacts once they are in the lab. In brief, user-friendly sections, he outlines the basic principles of identification, classification, quantification, data manipulation, and analysis. Students will find that Ewen's suggestions point out fruitful areas of analysis, yet do not dictate the researcher's approach. Examples drawn from 16th century Spanish sites in the Americas introduce students to the hows and whys of archaeological lab work.

Inclusion of botanical and zoological remains in archaeological analysis has dramatically increased since the advent of the New Archaeology. Yet most archaeologists have a limited knowledge of what archaeobiologists do and how their work can improve archaeological research and interpretation. In this handy volume, Kristin Sobolik outlines the major activities of archaeobiologists, the kinds of analyses they can provide to an archaeological project, and how biological specialists could and should be involved in project design and implementation. She also outlines factors that influence preservation of plant and animal remains and how project archaeologists should properly collect and analyze specimens. This brief work is an important guide for students starting in archaeobiology and for other archaeologists who use their work.

Curation is rarely the first topic raised in an archaeological seminar or addressed in a fieldwork design. And, the authors point out, it is too rarely discussed at all. But the current crisis in repository space has increased awareness that the long-term conservation and preservation of the material remains and field notes of an archaeological project are as important as the finds themselves. Sullivan and Childs, two experienced archaeologists and museum professionals, provide an introductory guide to curation for archaeologists. Crucial to this process is the recognition of curation issues before the first day of fieldwork and continuous involvement of curators in the process throughout the archaeological project. The authors provide guidance on how to manage a collection, what to do with field notes and other project documents, how to find a repository for the collection, and how to adjust field practices so that the process runs smoothly. This brief, practical guide will be invaluable to all field archaeologists and their students, and to museum professionals who curate archaeological collections.

Using the right media, archeologists can and must educate and excite the people who need their information. Larry Zimmerman's earnestly engaging guide to reporting archaeological findings argues that communication is one of archaeology's primary tasks. He offers advice on working with colleagues, identifying audiences, and creating dynamic, jargon-free prose. He offers easy pointers for developing and writing effective CRM reports, conference papers, and articles in general-interest magazines. Students will benefit from Zimmerman's frank advice about citations and style, as well as his discussion of diverse audiences. Practicing archeologists will learn much from the discussion of electronic media and new ways to reach non-academic audiences.

Archaeology doesn't just happen. With large numbers of people involved, the complex logistics of fieldwork, funding needed for projects of any size, and a bewildering set of legal regulations and ethical norms to follow, a well-run archaeological project requires careful and detailed planning. In this reader-friendly guide, Black and Jolly give novice researchers invaluable practical advice on the process of designing successful field projects. Encompassing both directed academic and directed CRM projects, they outline the elements needed in your professional toolkit, show step-by-step how an archaeological project proceeds, focus on developing appropriate research questions and theoretical models, and address implementation issues from NAGPRA regulations down to estimating the number of shovels to toss into the pickup. Sidebars explain important topics like the Section 106 process, the importance of ethnology and geology to archaeologists, OSHA requirements, and how to assess significance. Archaeology by Design is an ideal starting point for giving students and novices the big picture of a contemporary archaeological project.

Two longtime fieldworkers offer mentors' advice on finding and mapping archaeological sites. They outline the logic behind field surveying and the various designs used for survey projects. Recognizing that logistical issues—like schedule, budget, and equipment—are equally important to complete the job, particularly in a cultural resource management context, the authors also guide new professionals through the practical details of their work. The volume also ranges through the legal and ethical context of fieldwork and the various geophysical methods available for non-intrusive surveying. As a handy guide for novices, or a text for students and field schools, Collins and Molyneaux's book will be the place to start.

Excavation is traditionally considered the heart of the archaeological enterprise. But it is an activity transformed over the past two decades of increasingly contract-based work. Carmichael and Lafferty lay out the basics of this brand of excavation for the novice reader in this handy, practical guide. After outlining the ethical concerns in archaeological excavation and the history of the endeavor, the authors walk the reader through the steps of contemporary excavation—site identification, remote sensing, test excavation, and various scales of recovery. They also deal with the complex issues of human burials uncovered in excavation. Written in an accessible, practical way, Carmichael and Lafferty's guide will be useful to students, field school attendees, and other novice fieldworkers.

How can you ensure that you are learning everything your artifacts have to teach you? Charles Ewen explores a variety of methods and techniques used to prepare, protect, and analyze artifacts once they are in the lab. In brief, user-friendly sections, he outlines the basic principles of identification, classification, quantification, data manipulation, and analysis. Students will find that Ewen's suggestions point out fruitful areas of analysis, yet do not dictate the researcher's approach. Examples drawn from 16th century Spanish sites in the Americas introduce students to the hows and whys of archaeological lab work.

Inclusion of botanical and zoological remains in archaeological analysis has dramatically increased since the advent of the New Archaeology. Yet most archaeologists have a limited knowledge of what archaeobiologists do and how their work can improve archaeological research and interpretation. In this handy volume, Kristin Sobolik outlines the major activities of archaeobiologists, the kinds of analyses they can provide to an archaeological project, and how biological specialists could and should be involved in project design and implementation. She also outlines factors that influence preservation of plant and animal remains and how project archaeologists should properly collect and analyze specimens. This brief work is an important guide for students starting in archaeobiology and for other archaeologists who use their work.