All too often, in the popular imagination, Africa is a land of wildlife safaris and "exotic" cultures or, alternatively, a continent plagued by violence, warfare, poverty, and disease. Archaeologists of Africa have long worked to counter such negative images and misleading stereotypes. Yet, despite ample evidence of the continent's technological development and complex social forms through time, Africa remains peripheral in world prehistory texts. African Archaeology: A Critical Introduction fills a crucial gap by providing a multi-authored introduction to the archaeology of Africa that challenges misconceptions claims about Africa's past and teaches students how to evaluate these claims. Archaeologist Ann Stahl's thoughtful introduction lays the groundwork for such an approach by exploring the contexts that have shaped archaeological knowledge of Africa's past and asking readers to consider for whom Africa's past matters and why. African Archaeology is comprised of chapters specifically written for this volume by prominent archaeologists with regional and topical expertise.