Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-In this thorough but sophisticated book, Thomas presents a detailed archaeological discussion of 18 American Indian cultural sites throughout the United States and Canada. The subjects range from utilitarian sites like Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump in Alberta, to sacred places such as Big Horn Medicine Wheel in Wyoming. They likewise span the history of our continent, from locations of specific historic events like the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, to areas that define the oldest epochs of North America, such as the Blackwater Draw used from 9300 to 4000 B.C.E. Thomas has consulted with and been supported by a few Native scholars and elders, as well as other academic experts. The book is definitely archaeological in perspective but the author is sensitive to and respectful of the cultures he examines. The preface and introduction include valuable essays on the issues involved in studying such sites, such as appropriate and respectful terminology, cultural ownership of sacred sites, and the problem of tourism vs. preservation. The informative text is enhanced by well-chosen, black-and-white and a few full-color illustrations. An excellent resource for serious students of the subject, but very scholarly.

Sean George, St. Charles Parish Library, Luling, LA

Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Not to be confused with Thomas's Exploring Ancient Native America: An Archaeological Guide (Prentice Hall, 1994), this is the latest entry in Oxford's "Places in Time" series. Following an introduction that echoes many themes found in his Skull Wars: Kennewick Man, Archaeology and the Battle for Native American Identity (LJ 4/1/00), Thomas examines 18 sites, from Blackwater Draw, dating from 9300 to 4000 B.C.E. to the Little Bighorn Battlefield. Many sites are popular tourist attractions, such as the Serpent Mound and Mesa Verde, while others, like Hidden Cave, are included for archaeological significance. The author grudgingly includes the Big Horn Medicine Wheel in Wyoming, though he is extremely concerned about the potential damage caused by large numbers of visitors to a site considered sacred ground by Native Americans. Each chapter focuses on a specific site and includes text written for the lay reader, supplemented by maps, illustration, photographs, suggestions for further reading, and information on how to visit each site. Recommended for the travel sections of public libraries.

John Burch, Hagan Memorial Lib., Williamsburg, KY

Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews