What is archaeology? The word may bring to mind images of golden pharaohs and lost civilizations, or Neanderthal skulls and Ice Age cave art. Archaeology is all of these, but also far more: it’s a science built on curiosity about what’s behind us, the only science to encompass the entire span of human history. This Little History tells the riveting stories of some of the great archaeologists and their amazing discoveries around the globe: ancient Egyptian tombs, Mayan ruins, the first colonial settlements at Jamestown, mysterious Stonehenge, the incredibly preserved Pompeii, and many, many more.
In this short video interview, author of A Little History of Archaeology, Brian Fagan chats to Yale Books about what it’s like to be an archaeologist, how archaeology has changed with technology, and whether there is still a place for a sense of wonder in the subject.
Brian Fagan is emeritus professor of anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara. He is an internationally recognised authority on global prehistory and the author of dozens of books on archaeological topics, including Fishing: How the Sea Fed Civilization.
