African Archaeology (Cambridge World Archaeology (Paperback))

David Phillipson presents an illustrated account of African prehistory, from the origins of humanity through European colonization in this revised and expanded edition of his original work. Phillipson considers Egypt and North Africa in their African context, comprehensively reviewing the archaeology of West, East, Central and Southern Africa. His book demonstrates the relevance of archaeological research to understanding contemporary Africa and stresses the continent's contribution to the cultural heritage of humankind. Cover Page......Page 1 Title......Page 4 ISBN 0521832365......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents (with page links)......Page 8 Illustrations (with page links)......Page 10 Sources of illustrations......Page 14 Preface......Page 16 Elucidating the African past......Page 18 Archaeology in Africa......Page 20 Linguistics......Page 23 Oral traditions......Page 26 Africa in world prehistory......Page 27 Definition and process......Page 32 World-wide precursors of the hominids......Page 37 The earliest hominids......Page 39 The oldest discoveries in eastern Africa......Page 49 The Lake Turkana Basin and Olduvai Gorge......Page 51 South Africa......Page 59 The earliest tool-makers......Page 64 Acheulean and Sangoan in Africa......Page 69 Acheulean in eastern Africa......Page 77 Acheulean in south-central Africa......Page 85 Acheulean in southern Africa......Page 90 Acheulean in West Africa and the Sahara......Page 92 Acheulean in North Africa......Page 94 Sangoan assemblages......Page 98 Acheulean/Sangoan artefacts and their makers......Page 101 The ‘Middle Stone Age’ and the ‘Late Stone Age’......Page 108 Southern Africa......Page 113 South-central Africa......Page 125 Rock art in southern and south-central Africa......Page 128 Central Africa......Page 133 Eastern Africa......Page 139 West Africa......Page 145 North Africa and the Sahara......Page 148 Changing life-styles and technology......Page 158 North Africa, the Sahara and the Nile Valley......Page 164 East Africa......Page 173 Overview......Page 176 African peoples 10,000 years ago......Page 177 Cultivation and herding......Page 182 The Sahara and North Africa......Page 189 The Nile Valley......Page 198 West and Central Africa......Page 212 Ethiopia and the Horn......Page 220 East Africa......Page 223 Iron......Page 231 North Africa......Page 233 Egypt and the Arab invasion......Page 238 The Sudan......Page 241 Ethiopia and adjacent regions......Page 245 West Africa......Page 251 Central Africa......Page 262 Eastern and southern Africa......Page 266 The contribution of Bantu linguistic studies......Page 278 Mode of dispersal......Page 282 Stone-tool-using herders of southwestern Africa......Page 286 The last 1000 years......Page 291 West Africa......Page 292 Ethiopia, the southern Sudan and adjacent regions......Page 301 The east coast of Africa......Page 305 Bantu-speakers north of the Zambezi......Page 308 Southeastern Africa......Page 314 Southwestern Africa......Page 324 Epilogue......Page 325 Bibliographic guide......Page 327 Bibliographic references......Page 328 Index (with page links)......Page 386 Cover Page 1 Title 4 ISBN 0521832365 5 Dedication 6 Contents (with page links) 8 Illustrations (with page links) 10 Sources of illustrations 14 Preface 16 1 Introduction 18 Elucidating the African past 18 Archaeology in Africa 20 Linguistics 23 Oral traditions 26 Ethnoarchaeology 27 Africa in world prehistory 27 2 The emergence of humankind in Africa 32 Definition and process 32 World-wide precursors of the hominids 37 The earliest hominids 39 The oldest discoveries in eastern Africa 49 The Lake Turkana Basin and Olduvai Gorge 51 Central and south-central Africa 59 South Africa 59 The earliest tool-makers 64 3 The consolidation of basic human culture 69 Acheulean and Sangoan in Africa 69 Acheulean in eastern Africa 77 Acheulean in south-central Africa 85 Acheulean in southern Africa 90 Acheulean in West Africa and the Sahara 92 Acheulean in North Africa 94 Sangoan assemblages 98 Acheulean/Sangoan artefacts and their makers 101 4 Regional diversification and specialisation 108 The ‘Middle Stone Age’ and the ‘Late Stone Age’ 108 Southern Africa 113 South-central Africa 125 Rock art in southern and south-central Africa 128 Central Africa 133 Eastern Africa 139 West Africa 145 North Africa and the Sahara 148 Changing life-styles and technology 158 5 The beginnings of permanent settlement 164 North Africa, the Sahara and the Nile Valley 164 East Africa 173 Overview 176 African peoples 10,000 years ago 177 6 Early farmers 182 Cultivation and herding 182 The Sahara and North Africa 189 The Nile Valley 198 West and Central Africa 212 Ethiopia and the Horn 220 East Africa 223 7 Iron-using peoples before AD 1000 231 Iron 231 North Africa 233 Egypt and the Arab invasion 238 The Sudan 241 Ethiopia and adjacent regions 245 West Africa 251 Central Africa 262 Eastern and southern Africa 266 The contribution of Bantu linguistic studies 278 Mode of dispersal 282 Madagascar and the Comoro Islands 286 Stone-tool-using herders of southwestern Africa 286 8 The second millennium AD in sub-Saharan Africa 291 The last 1000 years 291 West Africa 292 Ethiopia, the southern Sudan and adjacent regions 301 The east coast of Africa 305 Bantu-speakers north of the Zambezi 308 Southeastern Africa 314 Southwestern Africa 324 Epilogue 325 Bibliographic guide 327 Bibliographic references 328 Index (with page links) 386 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 acccepted 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 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 our understanding of Africa today. In this fully revised and expanded edition of his seminal archaeological survey, David Phillipson presents a lucid, fully illustrated account of African prehistory, from the origins of humanity to the time of European colonisation, and demonstrates the relevance of archaeological research to an understanding of Africa today This book attempts to provide an up-to-date summary and interpretation of the archaeological evidence for the past of human beings in Africa from their first appearance up to the time when written history becomes the primary source of information.

This book provides the only comprehensive and up-to-date examination of African archaeology.

David W. Phillipson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 311-368) And Index.