Jourual of Archaeological Science 1980, 7, 399--400 Book Notes Osteologyfor the Archaeologist (Numbers 3, 4 and 5). By Stanley J. Olsen. 1979. 186 pp., illustrations. Vol. 56. Cambridge, Mass.: Papers of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology, Harvard University. This three-in-one publication is a further contribution to comparative osteology, partly in the form of a bone atlas. Although the first part is concerned with mastodon and mammoth (No. 3), the other numbers provide a very useful introductory survey of the osteology of birds of North America, both the skull and post-cranial skeleton. The variation detailed is of course to some extent applicable to birds beyond North America, and is certainly likely to be very useful in general classwork when considering avian zooarchaeology. It is to be hoped that further studies are to come. D.R.B. Experimental Archaeology. By John Coles. 1979. 274 pp., illustrations. London: Academic Press. s paperback. This highly readable general account, is a further attempt on tile part of the author to explore the various potentially fruitful ways of trying to answer archaeological questions by experimenta- tion. Chapters are concerned with "Discovery and exploitation", "Subsistence", "Settlement", "Arts and crafts", "Life and death", which shows something of the particular interests of the writer. Far more could have been made of, say, vitrification or the experimental earthworks of environmental interest, but perhaps we can eventually look forward to another volume which concentrates on experimental work in relation to problems in archaeological science. D.R.B. Stone Axe Studies. Archaeological, Petrological, Experhnental and Ethnographic. Edited by T. H. McK. Ciough and W. A. Cummins. 1979. 137 pp., illustrations. CBA Research Report No. 23. London: Council for British Archaeology. s 1.75. Although studies on tile exploitation of rock resources by earlier populations has a long history, there have been remarkably few books concerned with aspects of ancient material Cultures in relation to what one might call ancient resource petrology. This CBA publication is therefore very welcome, providing 16 contributions, with an international flavour, which include aspects of British stone axe petrology and chronology, axes and adzes from other European areas (including a special paper on jade implements), flint axe geochemistry, and finally some com- ments on the etlmography and petrology of axes from Australia, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. A very useful collection of papers, and for those of us involved in teaching geoarchae- ology it will certainly be on the reading list. D.R.B Evohaionary History of the Prbnates. By F. S. Szalay and Eric Delson. 1979. xiv + 580 pp. New York and London: Academic Press. $45.00. This volume provides a remarkably complete and detailed, analytical documentation of the fossil record and evolutionary history of the primates. Stratigraphic assignment and site derivation are only presented in the very briefest of terms, and geo-ecological context is ignored, although the summary discussions of anatomical adaptations are helpful. The primary value of the book for non-primatologists is as a unique and objectivereference, particularly on the Tertiary hominoi- dea and their potential ancestors. It supersedes all other texts in this matter. K.W.B. 399

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Jourual of Archaeological Science 1980, 7, 399--400

Book Notes

Osteologyfor the Archaeologist (Numbers 3, 4 and 5). By Stanley J. Olsen. 1979. 186 pp., illustrations. Vol. 56. Cambridge, Mass.: Papers of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology, Harvard University.

This three-in-one publication is a further contribution to comparative osteology, partly in the form of a bone atlas. Although the first part is concerned with mastodon and mammoth (No. 3), the other numbers provide a very useful introductory survey of the osteology of birds of North America, both the skull and post-cranial skeleton. The variation detailed is of course to some extent applicable to birds beyond North America, and is certainly likely to be very useful in general classwork when considering avian zooarchaeology. It is to be hoped that further studies are to come.

D.R.B.

Experimental Archaeology. By John Coles. 1979. 274 pp., illustrations. London : Academic Press. s paperback.

This highly readable general account, is a further attempt on tile part of the author to explore the various potentially fruitful ways of trying to answer archaeological questions by experimenta- tion. Chapters are concerned with "Discovery and exploitation", "Subsistence", "Settlement", "Arts and crafts", "Life and death", which shows something of the particular interests of the writer. Far more could have been made of, say, vitrification or the experimental earthworks of environmental interest, but perhaps we can eventually look forward to another volume which concentrates on experimental work in relation to problems in archaeological science.

D.R.B.

Stone Axe Studies. Archaeological, Petrological, Experhnental and Ethnographic. Edited by T. H. McK. Ciough and W. A. Cummins. 1979. 137 pp., illustrations. CBA Research Report No. 23. L ondon : Council for British Archaeology. s 1.75.

Although studies on tile exploitation of rock resources by earlier populations has a long history, there have been remarkably few books concerned with aspects of ancient material Cultures in relation to what one might call ancient resource petrology. This CBA publication is therefore very welcome, providing 16 contributions, with an international flavour, which include aspects of British stone axe petrology and chronology, axes and adzes from other European areas (including a special paper on jade implements), flint axe geochemistry, and finally some com- ments on the etlmography and petrology of axes from Australia, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. A very useful collection of papers, and for those of us involved in teaching geoarchae- ology it will certainly be on the reading list.

D.R.B

Evohaionary History of the Prbnates. By F. S. Szalay and Eric Delson. 1979. xiv + 580 pp. New York and L ondon : Academic Press. $45.00.

This volume provides a remarkably complete and detailed, analytical documentation of the fossil record and evolutionary history of the primates. Stratigraphic assignment and site derivation are only presented in the very briefest of terms, and geo-ecological context is ignored, although the summary discussions of anatomical adaptations are helpful. The primary value of the book for non-primatologists is as a unique and objectivereference, particularly on the Tertiary hominoi- dea and their potential ancestors. It supersedes all other texts in this matter.

K.W.B. 399