David Phillipson has expanded and updated his survey on the archaeology of Africa in a lucid, fully illustrated account which extends from the origins of humanity to the time of European colonization
The kings of Aksum formally became Christian during the second quarter of the 4th century, making Ethiopia the second country in the world (after Armenia) officially to adopt the new faith. This landm
David Phillipson is the first Professor of African Archaeology to be appointed at any UK university, and is Director of Cambridge University's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. In the first part of this passionately argued lecture, he makes the case for the importance of 'archaeology in Africa' and 'Africa in archaeology'. Africa was almost certainly the birthplace of the first hominids and has an archaeological record longer than any other continent. Drawing on examples from the archaeology of Ethiopia, specifically the ancient civilisation of Aksum, Phillipson highlights the contribution that archaeology can make to the understanding of that continent and its people, and demonstrates the relevance of African archaeology to mankind as a whole. In the second part of this lecture, Phillipson defends the vital role of museums as custodians of a significant part of our international cultural heritage and as an essential resource for the furtherance of international scholarship.
Research in Africa is now accepted as an integral part of global archaeological studies. As well as providing archaeologists with the oldest material, Africa is also widely recognised as the birthplace of modern man and his characteristic cultural patterns. Archaeological study of later periods provides unique and valuable evidence for the development of African culture and society, while ongoing research in Africa provides insights relevant to the interpretation of the archaeological record in other parts of the world. In this fully revised and expanded 2005 edition of his seminal archaeological survey, David Phillipson presents a lucid and fully illustrated account of African archaeology from prehistory and the origins of humanity to the age of European colonisation. The work spans the entire continent from the Mediterranean to the Cape of Good Hope and demonstrates the relevance of archaeological research to the understanding of Africa today.
Research in Africa is now accepted as an integral part of global archaeological studies. As well as providing archaeologists with the oldest material, Africa is also widely recognised as the birthplace of modern man and his characteristic cultural patterns. Archaeological study of later periods provides unique and valuable evidence for the development of African culture and society, while ongoing research in Africa provides insights relevant to the interpretation of the archaeological record in other parts of the world. In this fully revised and expanded 2005 edition of his seminal archaeological survey, David Phillipson presents a lucid and fully illustrated account of African archaeology from prehistory and the origins of humanity to the age of European colonisation. The work spans the entire continent from the Mediterranean to the Cape of Good Hope and demonstrates the relevance of archaeological research to the understanding of Africa today.
