The Prehistoric Archæology of North-West Africa

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This is a book some of us have been wanting for a long time. From the prehistorian's point of view, north-west Africa is an extremely interesting region, and until now information about it could only be obtained in 'bits and pieces', often in articles which were difficult to come by. It is true that the author does not pretend to have visited the area he deals with, still less to give the results of his own excavations in the field ; but he has examined most of the available literature critically, and as a result has pieced together a consistent account of the whole subject. A certain school of thought has grown up recently which appears to consider that no publication can be of much worth which does not give the results of personal excavations and investigation in the field. Those who take this view perhaps forget that their own results will necessarily have to be utilized by future researchers in the same way as Mr. Wulsin has used his sources, and their findings similarly subjected to critical study. The Prehistoric Archaeology of North-West Africa By Frederick R. Wulsin. (Papers of the Peabody Museum of American Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University.) Pp. xii + 173 + 12 plates. (Cambridge, Mass.: Peabody Museum, 1942.) 3 dollars.