Olejar Books

The core of archaeology is the relationship between people and things. Left without informants and, in many cases, textual data, archaeologists strive to reconstruct past life through the window of artifacts: things made, used, and modified by individuals while participating in the activities of everyday life. According to behavioral archaeologists, our ability to understand the relationship between people and things in the present is the foundation for archaeological reconstruction of the past. This comprehensive text provides an explanation of Behavioral Archaeology by the founders of the theory. Twenty years in the making, this work will be an essential tool for new scholars as well as experienced members of the field. It offers a clear overview of the theory of Behavioral Archaeology, updated with responses to criticism, and demonstrates its application in six diverse case studies.