Like so many other great things, the Ancient Peoples and Places Series started as a result of a casual conversation between an author and a publisher, this one about a massive tome on the archaeology of Sardinia. Thames & Hudson decided not to translate the Sardinian book, but launched an entire series of archaeological books instead. The first, Geoffrey Bushnell's Peru, appeared in 1956 to enthusiastic reviews. Everyone admired the striking design and magnificent photographs, the clear exposition of an archaeological topic little known outside the narrow confines of Americanists. But few people realized they were witnessing a revolution in archaeological publishing. Now, 5,000,000 words and 15,000 illustrations later, we celebrate the hundredth 'A. P. & P,' appropriately A Short History of Archaeology by the General Editor himself.