Product Description

The theory and practice of underwater archaeology includes nearly every archaeological discipline from prehistoric archaeology to the modern era. This encyclopedia investigates all aspects of archaeology in a submerged environment, as well as the archaeological study of maritime cultures. Of the 450 alphabetical entries, over 120 are devoted to sites: shipwrecks, ranging from the Mary Rose to the USS Monitor, and in our own century the Lusitania and warships of World War II; ship burials, such as the famous Dashur boats of ancient Egypt; prehistoric sites, including Chichen Itza and the Lake Phelps Canoes; submerged Bronze and Iron Age settlements: inundated Phoenician, Greek and Roman harbours and cities, including the recent exciting finds of Alexandria; and prehistoric American Indian settlements submerged by dams and reservoirs. Detailed entries also cover techniques of excavation and conservation, from airlifts to video mosaic. Key issues - such as human remains on sites, treasure hunting, and the maritime antiquities market - are thoughtfully addressed, and relevant legislation is discussed. Important institutions and individuals have their own entries. A comprehensive and authoritative reference book for students, teachers, postgraduates and any interested reader.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #147319 in Books
• Published on: 1997-10
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 480 pages

Customer Reviews

One book to open many others ....
This may not be a book of the greatest 'depth' if you will excuse the pun, but what it does remarkably well is draw the reader into the subject by means of myriad short entries which have their own mini bibliographies. It is a smidgen under 500 pages in length, well designed and laid out and arranged under headings such as the names of vessels, places, techniques and technologies. At random therefore we find 'GIS' (Geographic Information Systems); 'Horse Ferry Wreck'; 'Lisht Timbers'; 'National Marine Sanctuaries' and 'USS Pilotfish' amongst the topics covered. Given that there appear to be between one and three subjects per page a guesstimate of the number of entries must be the better part of 500. There are also plenty of apposite illustrations, mainly small but both black and white and colour. A thematic table at the beginning gives some help in finding entries. The impressive list of contributors, and the 'advisory board' covers four pages.

The 'obvious' subjects seem pretty well covered - Mary Rose for example gets about two pages, four decent illustrations, though two of these are quite similar, and the mini bibliography lists three very familiar volumes, and two more specialist articles. Vasa gets a similar amount of space, with three pictures but six items in its bibliography. 'Mediterranean Sea' gets a little over six pages with five illustrations and about 30 bibliographic suggestions.The general standard of entries is good and well researched.

Any problems ? Only the usual ones with encyclopedias which are not multi volume monsters - and not totally exhaustive. I tried looking for 'Dreadnought' and 'Stratigraphy' (or lack of it with underwater sites): neither are there, though to be fair there is a section called 'Site Formation'. So nice volume: a joy to own, well produced, and now often avaliable as a cheap remainder - not perfect, but very good. Recommended, buy with confidence.

One For The Proud Shelf
I bought this book while studying archaeology, and after I sold the rest of my books, this one I kept and I will not sell for any price. It is a full A-Z of underwater and marine archaeology, including detailed descriptions and photographs of many many historial ships, boats, relics and corals found beneath the blue sheets of the Earth.

One of my great hobbies is to study marine vessels, and this book is a great educational experience for anybody who has this same interest, or any interest in the secrets that the oceans hold. All across the world, from the Mary Rose to the Titanic, to the Mary Celeste, this book opens up another world of understanding......

.......enter that world and you might find yourself surprisingly happy with what you find. Everyone wants to capture a piece of the ocean, nows your chance to grab a bigger piece than you thought possible. Buy this....now