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Written by some of the world's best-known archaeologists, this two volume set presents a collection of informative, readable, and often witty essays on the lives and work of their famous forebears, colleagues, and teachers. Encyclopedia of Archaeology: The Great Archaeologists features 58 remarkable biographies written by some of the world's best-known archaeologists. These essays are arranged chronologically and thus constitute a history of archaeology from its beginnings in the Renaissance to the present day. Especially exciting is the coverage of figures little known to readers in the West: Russian, Chinese, and Mexican archaeologists receive their due. Each biography begins with a brief summary of the subject's importance, then goes on to discuss the life and contributions of the biographee, with a focus on his or her role in the development of archaeology as a discipline. Controversy (take, for example, the notorious Schliemann, excavator of Troy) is not swept under the rug. Each essay concludes with a bibliography of primary sources (for people who want to read about the archaeologists' discoveries in their own words) and secondary sources (to see what critics and admirers had to say).