Title: African Historical Archaeologies
Author: Andrew Reid & Paul Lane (eds.)
Date: 2004
Publisher: Kluwer Academic
Pages: 408 pages
ISBN: 0-306-47995-8

[Back cover]

Traditionally, historical archaeology has had a North American or European stance, focusing on the interplay between historical documents and the archaeological record. For Africa, with its non-traditional historical sources, this interplay is not as applicable. These sources also inform the period of contact with Europeans, during which the shape of the modern continent was inexorably defined. By focusing on such sources, it becomes possible to present historical understandings which access African experiences with outsiders and other African populations.

This volume explores the range of interactions between the historical sources and archaeology that are available on the African continent. The contributions, written by a range of experts on different aspects of African archaeology, present the underlying issues such as:
* The conflict and collaboration in the foundation of modern Africa
* African trading communities maintaining their independence from Europe
* The impacts of the Atlantic slave trade

This represents the first consideration of historical archaeology over the African continent as a whole and therefore provides an important review for African archaeologists and historians. This seminal volume also explores Africa's place in global systems of thought and economic development for historical archaeologists and historians alike.