Space ― Archaeology's Final Frontier? an Intercontinental Approach

Space is one of the newest areas of archeological study. The spaces used by people through time and the spaces left empty tell much about the make up of society. How people construct spaces or use those created by nature has also come to be seen as a valuable tool in understanding early humans. This collection, which grew from a 2005 conference in Cork, Ireland, covers theory, methodology and practice in the archeological study of spaces. The editors, Salisbury and Keeler (anthropology, University at Buffalo) have not restricted authors to one particular theoretical construct, but allowed each to use what seems best in their particular study. The first section contains explanations of spatial analysis in archaeology, a history of change and false steps in using spatial analysis, along with an article on creating virtual representations of past landscapes and settlements. The last has been widely exploited by documentary makers. The following sections discuss the various ways in which space can be studied on site, from macro- to microcosms and over time. These give concrete examples of the ways in which the scientific method can be used to create a more complete picture of early cultures. Annotation c2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Roderick B. Salisbury is an IGERT Fellow in GI Science and Associate Director of the Social Systems GIS Laboratory, Department of Anthropology, University at Buffalo. His research using soil chemistry, GIS and a landscape approach to study the patterning of changes in social organization is in press in several journal articles. Dustin Keeler is a PhD candidate in the Anthropology Department at the University at Buffalo. His dissertation research involves GIS spatial analysis of Late Upper Paleolithic sites within the Paris Basin.