Menotti Francesco. Wetland Archaeology and Beyond: Theory and Practice

Oxford University Press, 2012. — 520 p.Despite being one of the most successful branches of mainstream archaeology, wetland archaeology, as an academic discipline, is still relatively unknown. We might have all heard of the wonderfully preserved organic artefacts and ecofacts found in waterlogged conditions, but do we really know how they were preserved, found, retrieved, and conserved for us to admire and study?Wetland Archaeology and Beyond takes the reader through the fascinating biography of wetland archaeology, from the dawn of the discipline to its remarkable achievements. Through a discussion of a large variety of worldwide wetland archaeological sites and their material culture, Menotti offers an appreciative study of the people who occupied these sites and who created the archaeological artefacts. The volume also includes a comprehensive explanation of the procedures and research processes involved in archaeological practice and theory.Focusing on the relationship between archaeological experts and the general public, Menotti highlights the importance of this relationship for the future of the discipline as wetland ecosystems continue to disappear at an inexorable rate - and with them our invaluable cultural heritage.Francesco Menotti is Professor of Archaeology at the Institute of Prehistory and Archaeological Science, at Basel University, Switzerland. He has been involved in wetland archaeological research for some fifteen years, working on various projects in different parts of Europe. His publications include 'The missing period': Middle Bronze Age lake-dwellings in the Alps (2001) and Living on the lake in prehistoric Europe (ed.) (2004).