Critically Reading The Theory And Methods Of Archaeology

Critically Reading the Theory and Methods of Archaeology stands out as the most thorough and practical guide to the essential critical reading and writing skills that all students, instructors, and practitioners should have. It provides priceless insight for the here and now of the Theory and Methods of Archaeology classes and for a lifetime of reading, learning, teaching, and writing.

Chapters focus on rigorous reasoning skills, types of argument, the main research orientations in archaeology, the basic procedural framework that underlies all schools of archaeology, and issues in archaeology raised by skeptical postmodernists. Review: Gibbon's main goal with this book is clearly indicated by his title: he wants readers to think critically when reading archaeological texts.

He suggests that his book is appropriate for undergraduates, graduate students, nonprofessionals, and also professional archaeologists. He further suggests that students engaged in thesis writing and also professional archaeologists might find the book useful in helping them write more clearly and coherently.

I think Gibbon succeeds with these goals, and I agree that both students and professionals will benefit from reading his book...Gibbon's writing is refreshingly clear: he practices what he preaches! I think undergraduates will find his writing accessible, and will also appreciate the brevity of the chapters, as I did...Gibbon offers an up-to-date, concise, and readable summary of archaeological theory, informal logic, statistics, and philosophy of science.

Undergraduates, graduates, and professionals alike might find that this book will not only make them more critical readers of archaeology, but also better writers of archaeology. That is, Gibbon's book has the potential to make us better archaeologists. Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology This little book packs a punch!

We have come to expect clear argument and cogent logic from Gibbon's works, but here he not only employs but gives us the tools to evaluate the clarity, validity, and cogency of archaeological literature. It is a book that should be required reading for any archaeologist. I am certain it will become a well-thumbed volume on my bookshelf. -- Peter Peregrine, Lawrence University The most invaluable lesson I learned at university was to be skeptical of what I read and to think for myself.

Guy Gibbon's stimulating book, Critically Reading the Theory and Methods of Archaeology, encourages its readers to read critically and to challenge arguments, and not accept things at face value, and it is to be applauded and welcomed for doing so. Our discipline will only progress through the rebuttal of fixed ideas, entrenched views and erroneous dogmas, of which there are many in Archaeology. -- Paul G.

Bahn, co-author, Archaeology: Theories, Methods, and Practice Gibbon has produced a powerful text for courses that aim to teach disciplinary writing and thinking and a key work for courses in archaeological writing and archaeological theory. Critically Reading the Theory and Methods of Archaeology fosters thinking about archaeology as a holistic discipline and is a valuable resource for teaching archaeology students to read and think critically. -- Mary C.

Beaudry, Boston University, Boston University