from sealevel oscillations. This idea is supported by the fact that thescavenging assemblages pre-date 55,000 BP. while the huntingassemblages post-date it. 55.000 BP is often, thoughnot unanimously, associ­ ated with a climaticdeterioration and a drop of sea levels. Kuhn emphasizes, though. thatthe patterns observed amount to shifts in the relative abundance of elements that persist throughout the Pontinian. Despitethe somewhat overambitious title of the boo� Kuhn is verycautious when addressingthe wider implications of his findings for eitherthe Italian Mousterian or the currentmain issues of Middle Palaeolithic research.After all, this book is importantbecause of its innovative approach to complementary lines of archaeological and environmentalevidence. The lithic and faunal analyses thatfmm the basis of this workwere designed in paralleland are directly compatible. Kuhn worked in an area that is not traditionally at the heartof Palaeolithicresearch and used data with pronounced resolutionlimitations. But theoutcome provides a verygood and potentially influential example on how to explore early human behavioural vari­ abilityat the regional level. Snapshots olthePast, by BrianFagan. Alta Mira Press (Sage Publications).Walnut Creek, CA, 1995. 163 pp., 1 map, 4 plates, guide to furtherreading. $14.95 (paper). by Todd W. Bostwick Pueblo GrandeMuseum Phoenix, ArizonaU.S.A. Brian Faganis well known for his archaeology books written for a general pubic as well as his textbooks. This book is a collection of his articlesoriginally published as bimonthly ''Ttmelines''columns inArc haeol­ ogy Magazine. Ashe states in the preface of the book, his articleswere meant to entertain, infonnand sometimes waxindignant on a wide varietyof archaeological subjects.His intent was tomake available to a wide audience short stories that"navigated through themaze of detailed andspecialized literature, creating snapshotsof archaeology, archaeologists, andour complex, multifaceted past."The collection of 27 articles he chose for the book were published between 1988 and 1995; in addition,Fagan wrote two new articles for thebook (one on prehistoric art and the other on thelives of Egyptian townspeople), for a tota129 articles. Thebook includes a preface andan introduction, withthe 29 articles divided into four sections: Early Lifeways; Commoner, Camels and GreatLords; Issues in ContemporaryArchaeology; andArchaeology and Society. Each of the four sections are precededwith a general introductionwritten for the book. The articles in the frrst sectiondiscuss early hunter-gatherers, hominids,and fanners. The second section consists of articles concerned with aspectsof early civilization andrecent historic societies.The third collection of articles explores major controversiesin archaeology such as Eve, thefirstAmericans, gender, cannibalism, dog-drawnsleds used by Plains Indians, and the problem of archaeological investigations thatare not published. Articles in the fourthpart discuss ways in which archaeologyintersects with modem people's lives including looting at Slack Fann in Kentucky, unexpectedarchaeological discoveries, stewardship of archaeological sites, workingwith museum collections, andarchaeology of the 1920s movie setfor The Te n Commandments in southernCalifornia. Thearticles in Fagan's book are well written and. for the most part, arestimulating and interesting.All of the articles are very short (3 to 5 pages), making this book easy to read in short stretches of time, much like a Reader's Digest of archaeology. Since the general public is oftenfascinated by the work archaeologist do, and the problems that archaeologist face in the course of their work, this book should be popular to a general 9 audience.The book also should be of interest to those archaeologistswho wish to read short articles about subjects or areasthat theyru.:e·inte�sted in, but do not wish to invest time in a lengthytechnical article. The OxfordEncyclo pedia of Archaeology in the Near East (Prepared Under the Auspices of the American Schools ofOriental Research), edited by Eric M. Meters, Oxford University Press, New York, 5 volumes, Cloth, preface, ix-xv:i"+$595.0.0.. by Douglas R. Givens ResearchAssociate Peabody Museum of Archaeology andEthnology HarvardUniversity Cambridge, MassachusettsU.S.A. Likemany of theendeavors by The Oxford University Pressin the history of archaeology, The Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeologyin theNear East is one of the most important compendium's of information comprising the history of Near EasternArchaeology in recent time. Eric M. Meyers (Professor of Religion andArchaeology, Duke University). the Editor in Chief of thevolume series,has done a masterfuljob of bringing together of wide variety of site information and biographical synposes of NearEastern archaeolo­ gists into a series of five volumes which arenot only ''user friendly" but "worth their weightin gold" for scholarsand interested readersof thehistory of NearEastern Archaeology. The wealth of information at the fmgertipsof the prospective researcheror interested reader is enormous. Althoughvast in its scope, the user of thevolumes willfind it easily accessible andof true value as a research tool. Meyershas brought to� gether the expertise of a vast number of contributors which werecarefully nudged together to produce a volume seriesof superlativequality and unestimateable value to those interested in the history of Near Easternarchaeology: Meyers wisely selectedWilliam G. Dever (Professor of NearEastern Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Arizona, Carol L. Meyers (Professor of Biblical Studiesand Archaeology, Duke University),James D. Muhly (Professor of Ancient History,University of Pennsylvania; andDirector­ elect, American School of Classical Studies,Athens), Dennis Pardee (Professor of Northwest Semitic Philology. University of Chicago), and JamesA. Sauer. ResearchAssociate. Semitic Museum. Harvard Univ�rsity) as editors of the volume series. Togethertheir editorial expertiseand that of EricMeyers has produced one of the most importantsources of information on the history of Near Eastern archaeology published in recent memory. The contributionsto each of the volumes in theseries have beenmeticulously edited, appropriatelyill ustrated, andprovide the reader with a concise yet detailed history of NearEastern archaeology which is useable to both scholar andgeneral reader. The volume seriesis most comprehensive. What is valuable to the reader is theattention paid by the edito­ rialboard of thevolume seriesto all mannerof sites throughout the NearEastern area, not just thewell­ known or the well-documented. This alone makes thevolume seriesof great importance to prospective readers andan excellent tool to begin a thorough study of the origins and development of NearEastern archaeology. Finally in one volume series, one canfind an excellent summation of the conduct of Near Easternarchaeology prosecuted over a greatnumber of years. Both discussionsof sitesand biographical sketches of the Near Easternarchaeological communityinvolved with thediscovery and documentation of �e archaeology of thearea so well presentedthat the reader will find verylittle to complain about withregard to the series value as a research tool or as a placeto provide a good startf or thegeneral reader interested in thearchaeology of the NearEast 10 .