Carman John. Archaeology and Heritage: An Introduction

Leicester University Press, 2003. — 240 p.Unlike most textbooks on heritage which discuss the creation of heritage as a cultural phenomenon or offer practical guides to heritage practices, Archaeology and Heritage takes a fresh approach by providing an introduction to themes in the field of heritage as it relates to the material legacy of our past.A survey of current approaches to theorizing archaeological practice presents some ideas about how we understand and relate to the remains, sites, structures and buildings that have come to our present from the past.The book is divided into seven chapters, each preceded by a short interlude which considers the types of literature and ways of talking about heritage which characterize that approach. For those not already acquainted with recent archaeological theory, the book provides a brief introduction to current trends. Each chapter is in turn divided into key points indicated by sub-headings, and these key points are reiterated at the end of each chapter and are followed by a list of suggested readings.John Carman is based in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge where he lectures on heritage He is the author of a number of texts in the field of archaeological heritage management including Valuing Ancient Things: Archaeology and Law (1996, Leicester University Press). His personal research interests are archaeological heritage management as practised globally, contemporary uses of the past, archaeological theory and archaeologies of warfare.