The Past. The Concise Encyclopedia of Archaeology

The trained archaeologist might find this beautiful tome somewhat superficial, but there is no doubt that the amateur and the many youthful enthusiasts of archaeology will certainly praise it. It is easy to consult; it has plenty of useful and clear information, and the illustrations are excellent. I find the part dealing with America solid for an encyclopedic purpose. For example, if a high-school (or junior high-school) student should seek a description of the Inca Empire, he would find under Incas in this encyclopedia just what he wanted. The editor’s introductory chapter “What is Archaeology” (pp. 17-29) is highly commendable for undergraduate use. At the same time, the encyclopedia lacks definitions of some technical terms of archaeology. It is really a work of history and historical geography, but it does show the close relationship and interdependence of history and archaeology.