Google “archaeology” and you will get somewhere around 52,400,000 hits. Though such numbers will vary from time to time. Google lists entries on the basis of their degree of connectivity within the web. So, in some way, the more people who link to a site from their own homepage the more that site will rise within Google ratings, though there are other ways to up one’s ratings. Here is the top ten list as of February 23, 2006:
1) Archaeology Magazine: This popular magazine also provides the latest news in archaeology from around the world.
2) About.com: Archaeology: Articles and directory of Internet sites, including a world atlas of archaeology on the web.
3) Current Archaeology: The attractive site of Britain’s popular archaeological magazine. Illustrated timeline of British archaeology, articles from past issues, contents of the …
4) SAAweb – Society for American Archaeology: An international organization dedicated to the research, interpretation, and protection of the archaeological heritage of the Americas.
5) ArchNet – WWW Virtual Library – Archaeology: ArchNet, The World-Wide Web Virtual Library for Archaeology.
6) The Society for Historical Archaeology: This US-based society focuses on the New World, but also includes European exploration and settlement in Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
7) Internet Archaeology – Electronic Journal – Home Page: Fully refereed electronic journal for archaeology, international in scope. A collaboration of the British Academy, CBA and the Universities of Durham, …
8) The Archaeology Channel – Welcome: Archaeology and related subjects presented through streaming media by the Oregon-based Archaeological Legacy Institute. Videos can be viewed on-line and …
9) Biblical Archaeology Society: The Biblical Archaeology Society publishes Biblical Archaeology Review, Bible Review, and Archaeology Odyssey, and educates the public about archaeology and …
10) Archaeology in the Yahoo! Directory: Find a collection of selected links dealing with marine archaeology, education, Egyptology, fieldwork and expeditions, museums and exhibitions, …
This list contains a combination of popular magazines, archaeological societies, Internet content providers, etc. So how do they define archaeology?

Entries 1 and 3 are popular archaeology magazines. Archaeology Magazine is the general outlet for the Archaeological Institute of America. A glance at the website and one is caught by a rhetoric of archaeology as discovery, archaeology as a process of unveiling mysteries and secrets. Indeed a scrolling window moves through headlines such as “The Secrets of the Bible,” The Secrets of Ancient Egypt.” Unlock the secrets of the Maya” or “The Archaeology of War.” Archaeology is closely associated with the activities of excavation and foreign travel. Such rhetoric perpetuates a romantic attraction for the past which seems to appeal to a wider Anglo-American (predominately American) audience. Likewise, the 3rd entry, Current Archaeology is the UK’s “bestselling archaeology magazine.” It deals mainly with archaeology in Britain, though there is also a Current World Archaeology which covers the rest of the world. Its focus is upon “digging up the past.”
Entry 2 is an Internet content provider. About.com collates their latest information through Internet search engines. According to their mission statement “each month more than 29 million people visit About.com. Whether it be home repair and decorating ideas, recipes, movie trailers, or car buying tips, our Guides offer practical advice and solutions for every day life.” They provide information and content from “How to” advice on building your deck to homework help with your course on Aztec civilization. About claims to rely on a network of 500 guides to write content.
Entry 4, 6 and 9 are archaeological societies. Entry 4 is the Society for American Archaeology. 6 is the Society for Historical Archaeology and entry 9 is the Biblical Archaeology Society. With membership numbers stretching into the 1000’s the wider communities help generate the hits and connections which make these sites so popular. Here archaeology is broken down into sub-fields of interest—American Archaeology, Historical and Biblical.
Entry 5 ArchNet and 10 Yahoo are search directories where archaeology is defined by topical lists which lead to other content on the web.
Number 7, Internet Archaeology, is one of the longest standing academic web journals in archaeology. Finally, number 8 is The Archaeology Channel which is much like entries 1 and 3 in rhetoric, appeal and the popular definition of arcaeology.
Ask “what is archaeology?” and the engine will slightly reshuffle the deck. Number 11, the American Journal of Archaeology moves up into the top 10 in this search.
Likewise, ask “where is archaeology?” and one gets a similar list. Where is archaeology remains firmly in the realm of the Western World with the US and England on top. Of course, I have googled the term in English. But I wonder what happens if I do so in Swahili? (For the Spanish arqueologia there are 1,900,000 hits. For the French archeologie there are 3,720,000 hits. This also covers German.)
The point here is two fold. First, the top ten layers of the Google stratigraphy regarding archaeology are constantly shifting. Whether one conducts this search 2 weeks, 2 months, or 2 years in the future it is very likely that the order will be reshuffled. Second, this shuffling of the deck has ramifications, not only for how the wider public engages with archaeology, but also in terms of its very definition. These are points to bear in mind when one questions the understanding of archaeology by the public at large.