How do we know what ancient Athens was like or how the Aztecs lived? This question is fully answered by Archaeology Detectives, which tells the story of how archaeologists in the past two hundred years have gradually deciphered some of the world's most fascinating ancient sites. It takes the reader on the journey from initial discovery of specific sites or monuments to contemporary understanding of the civilizations that built them. This book links archaeological techniques with stories of how pioneers deciphered real sites, describing the thrilling process of analysis, frustrations, breakthroughs, and luck.