Choosing the best archaeology books depends a great deal upon the purpose you have for the book and your particular interests within the field. If you are taking a class in archaeology and need a book for assignments, then choose not only the proper book as assigned but also the edition or volume indicated. For personal use, look for archaeology books that appeal to any particular interests you have, such as works focusing on American archaeology or art history. You can also find lists and reviews of different works, which you can use as a guide to help you find new titles and see what others think of a particular book.
One of the most important considerations to have while choosing archaeology books is any requirement you may have for a certain text. If you need to find a particular book for a class you are taking, for example, then follow your teacher's instructions carefully. You probably need a particular work to follow along with assignments and reading in class, so be sure to get the right one. Textbooks often have different volumes and editions, so be sure to speak to your teacher about archaeology books to find out if you can use a previous edition.
If you are looking for archaeology books for your own personal reading, however, then consider the interests that you already have. There are many different works available to you, so you can find literature about archaeology in general as well as books with a focus on a particular subject. If you have a natural interest in archaeological findings from South Africa, for example, then look for a book about that region. You might also look for archaeology books about a subject other than what you are already interested in, to find out more about different regions and discover work you would otherwise miss.
There are a number of websites and magazines devoted to archaeology, and you can use these as resources to find new work. Look for lists of different archaeology books to find titles that you may not know about, especially from new authors working in the field. Many websites provide lists of books along with reviews from different readers. You can use these resources to help you find new archaeology books and to see what others have to say about the works they have read. These reviews can be especially helpful if you can find a reader with opinions about texts you have read that you agree with, as this establishes a baseline of similar views.
