Bookshelf (updated)
Archaeology Related Texts:
Digital Archaeology
Spatial Technology and Archaeology
This is one of those texts that anyone who is serious about doing good quality geospatial analysis with archaeological data should read.
Landscape Archaeology and GIS by Henry Chapman
Another good read on applying geospatial analysis and archaeology, with an emphasis on landscapes rather than specific sites
General GIS:
Open Source GIS: A GRASS GIS Approach by Markus Neteler and Helena Mitasova
This was incredibly hard to get hold of for a while, but the third edition is now out, and it’s a must if you want to get into using the grand-daddy of GIS packages.
Desktop GIS: Mapping the Planet with Open Source Tools
Everything you ever wanted to do with Open Source desktop GIS, with a focus on Quantum GIS. Not just an introduction, but a toolkit, taking on more advanced options such as scripting and command-line fu. Very popular amongst the new GIS learners in my office!
(NEW!) GIS: A Computing Perspective
Not a basic GIS text, but great for those who want more in depth information on topologies, how spatial indices work, and how data structures impact on performance.
Web-Based GIS:
Web Mapping Illustrated
For an outline of the whole area of web-based mapping, this is hard to beat. Amongst other things, it gives you the clearest set of instructions for installing PostgreSQL/PostGIS that I’ve seen, and a very useful glossary of MapServer commands.
GIS for Web Developers: Adding ‘Where’ to Your Web Applications
Another very good reference book, particularly for de-mystifying the whole discipline, and with useful links to free data sources on the web.
PostgreSQL:
Beginning Databases with PostgreSQL: From Novice to Professional, Second Edition
A great introduction and reference to working with PostgreSQL- I use this every day near enough!
