This comprehensive narrative uses an international perspective throughout while outlining the basic principles, methods, and theoretical approaches of modern archaeology. It gives students a basic grounding on the subject, the career opportunities it offers, and a look at some of the spectacular—and not so well known—discoveries that illuminate our past. Written by a master of the genre, the text emphasizes remote sensing techniques for archaeological survey, addresses the study of gender and ethnic diversity from the archaeological record, and assesses the importance of archaeology in the modern world.