This illustrated guide is ideal for anyone with a passion for delving into the past. It is a fascinating read for new enthusiasts, students, volunteers and professionals who wish to learn all about what happens to the finds once they are recovered and how experts collate and link all the information together. You will learn all about the many and varied specialist methods employed such as building matrices, dating finds, analyzing human remains and deciphering ancient languages. A chronological section guides you through the major archaeological periods and explains how the study of ancient bones and stone tools has given new insights into the origins and evolution of the human species and our interaction with the environment. Witness the human migrations that began in the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic eras, and progressed towards the great technologies of the later stone and metal ages, and culminating in later complex civilizations. There are sections on the key techniques associated with different types of archaeological sites, from churches and burial chambers to industrial buildings and shipwrecks. With advice on how to get involved with volunteer digs, re-enactments and local conservation and research, there?s plenty to inspire the amateur and potentially develop into a field of study or a fully-fledged career. With over 300 colour photographs and illustrative artworks, this is a fantastic hands-on reference book for new and experienced archaeologists alike.