Discovering World Prehistory

Book excerpt: The discipline of archaeology -- A brief history of archaeology -- The archaeological record -- Archaeological investigation -- Dating -- Bioarchaeolgy : testimonies of the dead -- Forging an agile past -- Contexts of interpretation -- Humanity emerging -- The lower paleolithic : homo erectus and friends -- The middle paleolithic : the Neanderthals and friends -- The later prehistory of the Near East -- The later prehistory of Africa -- The later prehistory of Europe -- The later prehistory of Asia -- Australia and Oceania -- A prehistory of the Americas -- After prehistory : the development of the first states.