Greek Stones Speak: The Story of Archaeology in Greek Lands (Second Edition, Revised and En)

Yes, this is somewhat a basic text, but it's too strong to say it is "archaelogy for dummies" - it brings Greek history to life, and what's wrong with that! Highly recommended, especially if you are about to journey to Greece.

This book, a companion to MacKendrick's work on Roman archaeology, The Mute Stones Speak, is one of those books you will find yourself returning to frequently, particularly if you ever travel to Greece. It is an overall view of Greek archaelogy, art and architecture from the early Minoan-Mycenaean period through the classical and Hellenistic periods. I read it in 1966 in high school Ancient History class and can actually remember the photographs and subject. It is probably not a book for the scholar but will give the lay person with an interest in archaeology an introduction to the subject, particularly how things connect together. I can still remember different characteristics about classical sculpture as opposed to the more refined Hellenistic stuff. So, if I can remember this much detail from a book I read more than 30 years ago, it must be pretty good. The part about Crete and the discovery of the Palace of Knossos is fascinating and makes you want to go there to see it in person.