The archaeological remnants of the first Americans tell a story of advanced civilization and culture. From the Pueblo dwellings of the Southwest to the buffalo jumps of the Great Plains to the coastal villages of the Northwest, the author combines the latest field research with accounts of tribal life to offer a new perspective on Native American history, culture and ritual. Using a chronological and regional framework, Thomas describes each of the prehistoric early native cultures, including Paleoindians of the North, the moundbuilding Mississippian cultures, and the ancient Anasazi peoples of the Southwest. Covering nine million square miles and 25,000 years, Exploring Ancient Native America suggests more than four hundred accessible sites where individuals can observe the remains of prehistoric American cultures today. Thomas also includes relevant contributions from Native American scholars, poets, and activists on topics such as language, oral tradition, contact, and sacred sites. The most comprehensive guide available, Exploring Ancient Native America is an excellent primer on early Native American cultures in every region of the country for both the intrepid explorer and the armchair traveler.

The Third Edition of David Hurst Thomas's ARCHAEOLOGY reflects the fascinating combination of traditional, formal scientific technique and the postmodern humanistic approach that defines archaeology today. Offering a dynamic account of history and theory, Thomas also emphasizes the importance of ideology and cognition.

The 1996 discovery, near Kennewick, Washington, of a 9,000-year-old Caucasoid skeleton brought more to the surface than bones. The explosive controversy and resulting lawsuit also raised a far more fundamental question: Who owns history? Many Indians see archeologists as desecrators of tribal rites and traditions; archeologists see their livelihoods and science threatened by the 1990 Federal reparation law, which gives tribes control over remains in their traditional territories. In this new work, Thomas charts the riveting story of this lawsuit, the archeologists' deteriorating relations with American Indians, and the rise of scientific archeology. His telling of the tale gains extra credence from his own reputation as a leader in building cooperation between the two sides.

This new brief edition pairs two of archaeology's most recognized names--David Hurst Thomas of the American Museum of Natural History and Robert L. Kelly of the University of Wyoming. The authors' passionate, down-to-earth introduction to archaeological method and theory makes the book ideal for all students, whether or not they intend to pursue a career in archaeology. Students will gain an immediate, concrete impression of what the practice of archaeology involves. The authors include well-chosen examples to show how archaeologists have worked through actual problems in the field and in the lab. After using this text, students will be better able to ask questions, solve problems, and discern "truth" from "fiction." They will learn about the nature of archaeological data and how archaeologists do such things as archaeological survey and excavation. They will also develop their sense of scientific logic and gain a better understanding of career opportunities available to archaeologists. This edition is enhanced with a new full-color design that improves the visual presentation and enables students to more clearly see the key points of an image. A rich array of supplemental resources includes a new companion website as well as the option to use the DOING FIELDWORK: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DEMONSTRATIONS CD-ROM, Version 2.0, also developed by the authors.

St. Catherines: An Island In Time is the story of how a team of archaeologists found the lost sixteenth-century Spanish mission of Santa Catalina de Guale on the coastal Georgia island now known as St. Catherines. The discovery of mission Santa Catalina has contributed significantly to knowledge about early inhabitants of the island and about the Spanish presence in Georgia nearly two centuries before the arrival of British colonists.

In this second volume in the "Places in Time" series, Pohl provides a guided tour of the most amazing archaeological sites of Mesoamerica, bringing to life the civilizations that once flourished there. 20 halftones. 80 linecuts. 20 maps.