The Oxford Encyclopedia of African Archaeology brings together contributions from a global community of leading scholars to present a comprehensive overview of the current state of the field. The Encyclopedia covers the breadth of topics and leading questions in the practice and study of archaeology across the continent, from the emergence of human ancestors and the earliest manifestation of human culture to the role of cultural heritage in the present day.

African archaeology is a field where discoveries are continuously being made and disciplinary specializations are constantly emerging. As a result, capturing an accurate snapshot of the current body of research is a challenge. Neither is it always possible to produce a volume that synthesizes local and regional histories, both recent and ancient, into a cohesive understading of the continent. This volume is a major landmark in that it achieves those goals.

The Encyclopedia engages with topical themes such as the changing nature of social organization, innovations in livelihoods and subsistence strategies, changing technology and materials, and human resilience across regions and time periods. This compilation is a must-have companion for anyone interested in the full range of African archaeology in terms of specialization, geographical coverage, gender representation, and sound scholarship. The Oxford Encyclopedia of African Archaeolgy is a resource for transforming understanding and practice in African archaeology, and an essential resource for those from other regions interested in learning about the deep and recent African peoples and pasts.