The Excavated Past: An Introduction to Peruvian Archaeology offers an accessible and up-to-date guide to Peru's rich archaeological heritage. Through a broad vision of archaeology as a discipline and historical reality, Henry Tantaleán offers a fascinating immersion into the past of Peru. The book is structured in three parts: an introduction to the key concepts of global and local archaeology, a brief history of Peruvian archaeology and a tour of the societies of ancient Peru, from the first settlers to the fall of the Inca Empire. Furthermore, the author highlights the role of archaeology in daily life, education and popular culture. This book is an invaluable resource not only for students and professionals of Peruvian archaeology, but also for anyone interested in understanding the cultural legacy that these findings contribute to our understanding of human history.