This is the fourth edition of this title, first published in 2005. Intended primarily as a prehistory text book at undergraduate level, the text of this edition has been revised to include the latest discoveries and theories, and streamlined in format and layout for greater accessibility.
A preface details the changes of this edition, and the introduction gives an overview of the modern archaeological process from a scientific and academic perspective. Archaeology is seen, from the American viewpoint, as a component part of anthropology, and this emphasis pervades the whole book.
The main text is divided into two unequal sections. The first and shorter, of four chapters, deals with the current state of knowledge about the evolution of hominins and their distribution from the Great Rift Valley of Africa. This culminates with the emergence of Homo sapiens and their spread across the globe. A new chapter, "The Origins, Antiquity and Dispersal of the First Americans", facilitated by new knowledge, brings down the curtain on the Pleistocene and the age of ice.
The second section takes the story from the dawn of the Holocene to the early days of Rome. Here fifteen chapters deal with all the continental regions to which human kind has spread. As well as a narrative text, each chapter contains feature sections following the headings: Key Discovery, Key Theme, Key Site and Key Controversy.
Amongst the key discoveries and sites are many old friends but also some stunning new revelations such as the recent LiDAR survey of Angkor Wat in modern Cambodia. Key controversies being presented to students must be a good thing, demonstrating that the subject is by no means cut and dried. There is still new evidence to find, mysteries to be resolved and contributions to be made.
Twenty four contributing authors bring their expertise to the text and Chris Scarre is to be congratulated on editing them into a very readable overall form. The original edition was described as "copiously and imaginatively illustrated". With half as many again of colour illustrations, this edition can only be described as even more so.
Sir Barry Cunliffe has described this book as " absolutely essential reading for all students of archaeology" and I can only agree. For myself, I look forward to many happy hours of delving into the latest information on familiar sites and exploring the prehistory of new and far-flung parts of the globe.