This is an ambitious work with some flaws. Darvill (professor of archaeology at Bournemouth University, U.K.) has undertaken a survey of the vocabulary of archaeology in "Europe, the Mediterranean, and English-speaking countries in which archaeology has become an established academic and vocational subject." The work is intended for students, journalists, "and other professionals who have cause to dip into the archaeological literature."

More than 4,000 definitions range from a couple of lines to a two-column page, with most being quite short. Famous archaeologists have brief biographies, usually taken from obituaries or autobiographies, which are noted. Sources, including excavation reports, are also provided for entries on sites. The "Quick Reference Section" at the back of the book contains lists of international archaeological conventions and recommendations; charts of stratigraphic subdivisions in Europe and North America; cultural periods in North America, Mesoamerica, and South America; and lists of Egyptian, Roman, and British rulers.

We found a number of small errors. Flavius Aetius, who defeated Attila, is called Flavours Aetius. Robert Koldewey, who excavated Babylon, is misspelled Koldeway. The Roman poet Martial is listed as Martial, Marcus Valerius, when his full name is Marcus Valerius Martialis. An entry on the Marcomanni says that they annexed Bavaria "in the 6th century BC," instead of in the sixth century A.D.

The Oxford Companion to Archaeology (1996) is a good choice for libraries wanting a more comprehensive, encyclopedic approach. Although it is weakened by some careless mistakes, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology is suitable for larger public and academic libraries that need a dictionary of archaeological terms.