Overview

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 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, Burrillo 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.

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R.E. Burrillo is an archaeologist, author, and conservation advocate. He holds a Master of Science in Archaeology from the University of Utah and is a research associate with Archaeology Southwest. His writing has appeared in Archaeology Southwest Magazine, Colorado Plateau Advocate, Southwestern Lore, Kiva, American Antiquity, and The Salt Lake Tribune, along with many regional publications. He is the author of Behind the Bears Ears: Exploring the Cultural and Natural Histories of a Scared Landscape (chosen by Foreword Book Reviews as their 2020 Critic's Choice in nonfiction); and The Backwoods of Everywhere: Words from a Wandering Local. He currently lives in Tucson, Arizona.

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