American Archaeology: Living History, Stolen Pasts, and Defending the Future (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798890920324)

A gripping, often irreverent exploration of the past, present, and future of archaeology in America.

Archaeology has long captivated the American public, yet pop culture mythology often obscures the harsh realities, thrilling discoveries, and complex moral decisions that archaeologists confront out in the field. Journalist and conservation archaeologist R. E. Burrillo illuminates the joys and contradictions of digging into humanity's past: the history of the practice, its evolution into science, the influences of nationalism and colonialism, and its ongoing problems with exploitation and misrepresentation.

Now, profit-driven business practices are shaping how we study and preserve the past--and pose a serious and growing threat to our scientific and cultural understanding of history itself. With rollicking storytelling and an insider's expertise, Burillo challenges us to celebrate curiosity even as we rethink what archaeology is, whom it serves, and what's at stake for our future and our understanding of ourselves as a species.

Author: R. E. Burillo
ISBN-13: 9798890920324
Publisher: Torrey House Press
Language: English
Published: 04/07/2026
Pages: 368
Format: Paperback