Before archaeology, Western knowledge of ancient history hardly existed outside of the pages of the Bible & the writings of the ancient Greeks & Romans. The History of Archaeology traces the history of this science from its inception in eighteenth-century Pompeii to the present day. With detailed text & hundreds of full-color photographs, it describes the scientific advances made by key figures, renowned personalities of archaeology, & important events in archaeological history. Each of the book's five sections describes the history of one of the basic themes in archaeology, including: * The search for treasure troves * The search for the origins of humankind & civilization * The search for "scientific" proof of the truth of ancient writings & of holy scripture * The constant, continuing search for ancient pedigrees for every modern nation & culture * The universal recurring question, "What were our ancestors really like?" Author & archaeologist John Romer's personal viewpoint & clear writing, combined with photographs & engravings of locations & artifacts, allow the world of archaeology to leap from the page straight into our own imaginations.