In Pursuit of Ancient Pasts: a History of Classical Archaeology in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, by Stephen L. Dyson, 2006. New Haven (CT): Yale University Press; ISBN-13 978-0-300-11097-5 hardback £30 & US$45; xv+316 pp., 40 ills (original) (raw)

The paper reviews Stephen L. Dyson's "In Pursuit of Ancient Pasts: a History of Classical Archaeology in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries," focusing on the historical narrative of classical archaeology over two centuries. It critiques the book's approach to classical archaeology as a discipline shaped by cultural perceptions and the implications of historical narratives on modern identity and scholarship. The work evaluates Dyson's contributions to classical studies, particularly regarding the relationship between classical archaeology and global contexts, while acknowledging the limitations of excluding recent developments in the field.