Methods & Aims in Archaeology

"Methods & Aims in Archaeology" by W. M. Flinders Petrie is a scientific publication written in the early 20th century. The book provides an overview of archaeological practices, discussing essential methodologies and objectives that guide excavators in their work. It emphasizes the importance of systematic techniques in studying human history through archaeological findings, predominantly focusing on ancient Egypt due to the author's extensive experience in the region. The opening of the book sets the stage for a detailed exploration of the field of archaeology. Petrie articulates the emerging nature of archaeology as a science and critiques its initial tendencies to be driven by mere curiosity or commercial interests. He stresses the significance of the character and education of excavators, suggesting that their insights and ethical responsibilities fundamentally shape the outcomes of their work. The author outlines the requisite knowledge, skills, and organizational methods that are vital for successful archaeological endeavors, laying the groundwork for a comprehensive examination of practical strategies and ethical considerations throughout the text. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie, commonly known as simply Sir Flinders Petrie, was a British Egyptologist and a pioneer of systematic methodology in archaeology and the preservation of artefacts. He held the first chair of Egyptology in the United Kingdom, and excavated many of the most important archaeological sites in Egypt in conjunction with his wife, Hilda Urlin. Some consider his most famous discovery to be that of the Merneptah Stele, an opinion with which Petrie himself concurred. Undoubtedly at least as important is his 1905 discovery and correct identification of the character of the Proto-Sinaitic script, the ancestor of almost all alphabetic scripts.