American Archaeology: Living History, Stolen Pasts, and Defending the Future

A gripping, often irreverent exploration of the past, present, and future of archaeology in America. “R.E. Burrillo will change what you thought you knew about archaeology, transforming what began as a science focused on division into a communal project of understanding and healing.” 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.