Archaeology has evolved: Four eras of understanding Africa’s past

I recently completed a book about how the history of archaeology in Africa has shaped the way we understand the past. What are the key phases of archaeological work in Africa? In my book, I divided the practice of archaeology in Africa into four phases: the early years, the emergence of archaeology, a coming of age, and archaeology’s diaspora across Africa. Much of the archaeological work at this time was based on collections, with little analysis of the finds. I also feel that including local communities in archaeological research at various levels is a grand shift in the discipline.