Archaeological Survey (Manuals in Archaeological Method, Theory and Technique) [Hardcover]

E.B. Banning (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 030647347X | ISBN-13: 978-0306473470 | Publication Date: September 1, 2002 | Edition: 1

This practical volume, the first book in the Manuals in Archaeological Method, Theory and Technique series, examines in detail the factors that affect archaeological detectability in surveys whose methods range from visual to remote sensing in land, underwater, and intertidal zones - furnishing a comprehensive treatment of prospection, parameter estimation, model building, and detection of spatial structure.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"E.B. Banning's Archaeological Survey deserves praise for gathering, in one place, a wealth of information on one of archaeology's fundamentals [...] Having read this book, though, I would not think of designing a sample survey without referring back to it [...] Archaeological Survey is the first volume in a new series, Manuals in Archaeological Method, Theory and Techniques, edited by Charles Orser and Michael Schiffer. If Banning's contribution is any guide, the Manuals will become valued and much-cited additions to archaeologists' bookshelves." (David A. Phillips Jr. (Journal of Anthropological Research, 59, 2003) "Although surveys have been important to archaeological research for decades, most authors address the subject in a cursory manner, often as a mere prelude to excavation. Banning (Univ. of Toronto) fills this gap with a comprehensive manual devoted exclusively to archaeological surveys. He begins with a discussion of the history of archaeological surveys and their unique contributions to archaeological research- Subsequent chapters address the goals of surveys; discuss how surveys are used to discover archaeological materials; analyze the importance of sampling; illustrate how surveys help archaeologists discover spatial structure; summarize the role of surveys in cultural resource management; and suggest several approaches to the evaluation of archaeological surveys. A thorough, up-to-date bibliography and a comprehensive index conclude the volume. Although at times the discussion can be difficult reading, the volume is generally well written and capably edited. A few more detailed examples would have helped to flesh out certain concepts, but that is a minor issue. This is the only currently available comprehensive treatment of archaeological surveys. Highly recommended." (W. Kotter, Weber State University (Choice, July 2003) "E.B. Banning's Archaeological Survey is a volume I would recommend to any geoscientist who wants, and perhaps even needs, to better understand what an archaeologist means by the word 'site'. The book surveys the methods, technologies, and theoretical approaches that archaeologists use to find, record, and analyze archaeological sites." (Joe Alan Artz, University of Iowa (Geoarchaeology: An International Journal, 19:7, 2004) "... it is far more than a mere handbook of archaeological surveying practices. It includes well-developed discussions on the theories behind them and the pros and cons of each method." "Each aspect of archaeological survey is introduced together with the theory on which it is based, followed by a discussion of applicability and problems likely to be encountered in interpretation of data yielded. The reader will particularly benefit from these discussions, obviously based on the author’s considerable personal experience and a broad knowledge ofthe subject, amply reflected in an extensive and highly eclectic bibliography." "This work should find its place on the shelf of any serious archaeological surveyor, fledgling or seasoned hand especially interested in modern, scientific approaches. It offers the reader a virtual banquet of information that treats the subject in a comprehensive manner with surprising depth for a volume of relatively modest proportions. In addition, it is a good sourcebook with numerous citations and a large bibliography useful for directing additional queries and research. Its theoretical content, and especially the questions it raises concerning basic concepts, will be of interest to any archaeologist." (Eliot Braun, SAS Bulletin 27 [2004])

Product Details

• Hardcover: 273 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 030647347X
• ISBN-13: 978-0306473470
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,693,535 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ted Banning was born in Montreal, Canada, in 1955 and was brought up in southern Ontario, receiving his PhD in Near Eastern archaeology at University of Toronto in 1985. He decided to become an archaeologist around the age of 9, and shortly after also became interested in numismatics - especially ancient Greek and Roman and early Japanese coins. However, his broad archaeological interests eventually settled down on the Near Eastern Neolithic, including a role on the senior staff of the 'Ain Ghazal excavations from 1982 to 1989 and directing his own project on a series of small Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Early Bronze Age sites in northern Jordan from 1987 onward. He is currently a professor in the Anthropology Department of University of Toronto, where he teaches archaeological lab methods and pursues research on Near Eastern prehistory and archaeological survey methods.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excerpt of review from Journal of Anthropological Research, January 22, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Archaeological Survey (Manuals in Archaeological Method, Theory and Technique) (Paperback)

`Although surveys have been important to archaeological research for decades, most authors address the subject in a cursory manner, often as a mere prelude to excavation. Banning (Univ. of Toronto) fills this gap with a comprehensive manual devoted exclusively to archaeological surveys. He begins with a discussion of the history of archaeological surveys and their unique contributions to archaeological research- Subsequent chapters address the goals of surveys; discuss how surveys are used to discover archaeological materials; analyze the importance of sampling; illustrate how surveys help archaeologists discover spatial structure; summarize the role of surveys in cultural resource management; and suggest several approaches to the evaluation of archaeological surveys. A thorough, up-to-date bibliography and a comprehensive index conclude the volume. Although at times the discussion can be difficult reading, the volume is generally well written and capably edited. A few more detailed examples would have helped to flesh out certain concepts, but that is a minor issue. This is the only currently available comprehensive treatment of archaeological surveys. Highly recommended.' W. Kotter, Weber State University in Choice, July 2003

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excepts from review from Choice Magazine, January 21, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Archaeological Survey (Manuals in Archaeological Method, Theory and Technique) (Hardcover)

"Although surveys have been important to archaeological research for decades. most authors address the subject in a cursory manner, often as a mere prelude to excavation. Banning (Univ. of Toronto) fills this gap with a comprehensive manual devoted exclusively to archaeological surveys. This is the only currently available comprehensive treatment of archaeological surveys..... Highly recommended."

W. Kotter, Weber State University