The Oxford Handbook of Archaeology (Oxford Handbooks)

by Barry Cunliffe (Editor), Chris Gosden (Editor), Rosemary A. Joyce (Editor)

The Oxford Handbooks series is a collection of authoritative reference books published by Oxford University Press. Each handbook in the series focuses on a specific subject and provides a comprehensive overview of the topic, featuring contributions from leading scholars in the field. The handbooks aim to offer a wide range of perspectives, methodologies, and approaches to understanding a particular subject.

The Oxford Handbook of Archaeology brings together 35 authors–all specialists in their own fields–to explain what archaeology is really about. This is one of the most comprehensive treatments of the subject and of the key debates ever attempted. It is designed to open up the world of archaeology to non-specialists and to provide an essential starting point for those who want to pursue particular topics in more depth.

About the Authors

Barry Cunliffe is Emeritus Professor of European Archaeology at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of the British Academy. He has excavated widely in Britain, the Channel Islands, France, and Spain, and written a number of books on archaeology, including Facing the Ocean (OUP, 2001) and The Celts (OUP, 2003). He has presented many radio and television programmes and is currently Trustee of the British Museum and Commissioner of English Heritage.

Chris Gosden is Professor of European Archaeology at the University of Oxford. He has excavated in Britain, Europe, Central Asia, and Papua New Guinea, and has written a number of books on archaeology and museum studies, including Prehistory: A Very Short Introduction (OUP, 2003).

Rosemary A. Joyce is Professor in the Department of Archaeology at the University of California at Berkeley.

Other Oxford Handbooks in the field of archaeology
In the field of archaeology, there are several notable handbooks and reference works available. These books cover various aspects of archaeology, including theory, methods, regional archaeology, and specific topics within the discipline. Some of these handbooks are:

The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology of the Contemporary World: Edited by Paul Graves-Brown, Rodney Harrison, and Angela Piccini, this handbook explores the archaeology of the recent past, focusing on the material remains of the 20th and 21st centuries.

The Oxford Handbook of Maritime Archaeology: Edited by Alexis Catsambis, Ben Ford, and Donny Hamilton, it covers the study of submerged and terrestrial archaeological sites related to human interaction with water bodies, including shipwrecks, harbors, and coastal settlements.

The Oxford Handbook of African Archaeology: Edited by Peter Mitchell and Paul Lane, this handbook focuses on the archaeology of Africa, covering topics such as early human evolution, the development of agriculture, and the rise of complex societies on the continent.