Archaelogy: Theories, Methods and Practice
Colin Renfrew & Paul Bahn
Thames & Hudson, 2012
656pp, over 700 colour illustrations
Paperback, £32
As indispensable to an archaeology student as a trowel and a pint of beer, Renfrew and Bahn, the stalwart of university reading lists, is back, bigger, better and glossier. While the fact that the handbook has been published in colour for the first time may seem trivial, it does genuinely make what is a relatively weighty tome very approachable and engaging. Throughout three sections and 16 chapters, all the major theories and practices of archaeology are explored with accessible and unpretentious logic. These are accompanied with over 700 illustrations include, maps, diagrams and photographs, many of which are new to this edition.
The case studies familiar to us from past editions have now been augmented with new and even more immediate examples. By bringing in reports as recent as the Lincolnshire Hoard and the 2011 season of excavations at James Fort, Jamestown, the continued relevance of the points being made is abundantly clear.
But, perhaps the most useful innovation is the final chapter, 'The New Searchers: Building a Career in Archaeology'. Five archaeologists, curators and teachers, from different fields and countries, give examples of the possible paths to a whole range of related careers. That they give their email addresses is testament to their genuine desire to help any aspiring young archaeologist.
As it has been for the past two decades, Renfrew and Bahn presents such a comprehensive and up-to-date resource on the subject that every student, or indeed any interested amateur, should really find a space on their shelf for this useful book.
Geoff Lowsley
