Established in 2011 by the Archaeological Institute of America, International Archaeology Day is celebrated every third Saturday in October, commemorating the field of archaeology and its contributions to society. Local celebrations organized by the AIA and other institutions occur throughout the month of October. There are also many online activities associated with International Archaeology Day, including interactive digs, where one can digitally follow an excavation project as it happens.
In honor of this day, we are featuring a collection of Berghahn Archaeology titles. Scroll down to read freely accessible introductions. For a full selection of titles please visit our Archaeology page.
CRITICAL PUBLIC ARCHAEOLOGY
Confronting Social Challenges in the 21st Century
Edited by V. Camille Westmont
This volume brings together current work on the theory and practice of critical public archaeology from Europe and the United States to illustrate the ways that implementing critical approaches can introduce new understandings of the past and reveal new insights on the present.
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DEFINING AND MEASURING DIVERSITY IN ARCHAEOLOGY
Another Step Toward an Evolutionary Synthesis of Culture
Edited by Metin I. Eren and Briggs Buchanan
Featuring studies of archaeological diversity ranging from the data-driven to the theoretical, from the Paleolithic to the Historic periods, authors illustrate the range of data sets to which diversity measures can be applied, as well as offer new methods to examine archaeological diversity.
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FIELD MANUAL FOR THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF RITUAL, RELIGION, AND MAGIC
C. Riley Augé
By bringing together in one place specific objects, materials, and features indicating ritual, religious, or magical belief used by people around the world and through time, this tool will assist archaeologists in identifying evidence of belief-related behaviors and broadening their understanding of how those behaviors may also be seen through less obvious evidential lines.
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UNUSUAL DEATH AND MEMORIALIZATION
Burial, Space, and Memory in the Post-Medieval North
Edited by Titta Kallio-Seppä, Sanna Lipkin, Tiina Väre, Ulla Moilanen and Annemari Tranberg
Afterword by Milton Núñez
Authors present a selection of cases addressing the issue of unusual deaths, burials, or ways to remember the deceased. Chapters explore theoretical views related to social memory of death and memorializing the deceased and their resting places during modern period.
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MAKING SCENES
Global Perspectives on Scenes in Rock Art
Edited by Iain Davidson and April Nowell
“[this is] the first coherent and comparative collection of papers to address the subject of scenes in rock art and is therefore an important addition to our understanding of not just early artmaking but also of images that illustrate a long history of humans interacting and performing in coherent groups.”• Australian Archaeology
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AGENT OF CHANGE
The Deposition and Manipulation of Ash in the Past
Edited by Barbara J. Roth and E. Charles Adams
Afterword by Tammy Stone
Drawn from across the U.S. and Mesoamerica, the chapters in this volume explore the use, meanings, and cross-cultural patterns present in the use of ash, and highlight the importance of ash in ritual closure, social memory, and cultural transformation.
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Forthcoming December 2022!
MYTHOLOGY AND SYMBOLISM OF EURASIA AND INDIGENOUS AMERICAS
Manifestations in Artifacts and Rituals
Małgorzata Oleszkiewicz-Peralba
The author examines contemporary Middle American and eastern European textiles, especially women’s garments, that contain an elaborated sacred code of symbols, and include remnants of the four horizontal directions, and the three vertical worlds that portray the structure of the universe.
Forthcoming in December 2022!
TAKING OUR WATER FOR THE CITY
The Archaeology of New York City’s Watershed Communities
April M. Beisaw
This archaeological examination of the New York City watershed reveals the cultural costs of urban water systems. Urban water systems do more than reroute water from one place to another. At best, they redefine communities. At worst, they erase them.
In Paperback!
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION
Development and Fostering Stewardship for an Archaeological Future
Edited by Katherine M. Erdman
“This volume is overall well edited and illustrated. It is not only a welcome addition to the ever-growing discipline of public archaeology and education, but also a testament to the passion and creativity of these authors and educators of all walks of life. It is written in a way that makes it accessible to people of all ages… It would be an excellent addition to any educator’s toolkit and graspable to the general public.” • Heritage & Society
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MAGICAL HOUSE PROTECTION
The Archaeology of Counter-Witchcraft
Brian Hoggard
“…a fascinating read for anyone interested in how fear of witchcraft and other dark forces have influenced the behaviour of people and therefore the archaeological record. Since it is not heavy on theoretical consideration, readers looking for accessible information on these aspects of past life can appreciate it. Those with a more academic interest will especially find the extensive material and finds catalogue useful. The book works well as a reference work for the subject, particularly for the UK and an excellent starting point when considering the rest of the world.” •Fennoscandia Archaeologica
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THE MAN WHO INVENTED AZTEC CRYSTAL SKULLS
The Adventures of Eugène Boban
Jane MacLaren Walsh and Brett Topping
“This is a most satisfying biography/social history; it is scholarship at its most entrancing and enlightening. It should be read and reread.” • Fortean Times
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Featured Series:
International Monographs in Prehistory:
Archaeological Series and Ethnoarchaeology Series
International Monographs in Prehistory publishes monographs in all areas of archaeological and ethnoarchaeological research. There are no geographical, topical, temporal, or other specific limitations. Monographs should pursue both data and theory, but never data devoid of theoretical context and impact, nor theory which is not exemplified by or tested against data. Although a distinction is often drawn between theoretical and substantive works in archaeology, this series seeks work of significance containing elements of both theory and substance. Monographs in the series will have immediate impact and long-lasting value in the field.
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