Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley
Author: Ephraim George Squier and Edwin H. Davis Series: Classics of Smithsonian Anthropology
Many of the Smithsonian Institution's early studies, published since 1881 in such official publications as the Bureau of American Ethnology's reports and bulletins, have remained major sources of information on North American Indians. The Classics of Smith-sonian Anthropology series makes available, for the first time in decades, some of the most important of these basic works.
First published in 1848, this key document in the history of American archaeology has been updated to include a new index and bibliography as well as a lively introduction that describes the controversies surrounding the book's initial publication. Illustrated with the original maps, plates, and engravings.
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Summary
Many of the Smithsonian Institution's early studies, published since 1881 in such official publications as the Bureau of American Ethnology's reports and bulletins, have remained major sources of information on North American Indians. The Classics of Smith-sonian Anthropology series makes available, for the first time in decades, some of the most important of these basic works.
First published in 1848, this key document in the history of American archaeology has been updated to include a new index and bibliography as well as a lively introduction that describes the controversies surrounding the book's initial publication. Illustrated with the original maps, plates, and engravings.
Description
Originally published in 1848 as the first major work in the nascent discipline as well as the first publication of the newly established Smithsonian Institution, Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley remains today not only a key document in the history of American archaeology but also the primary source of information on hundreds of mounds and earthworks in the eastern United States, most of which have now vanished. Despite adhering to the popular assumption that the moundbuilders could not have been the ancestors of the supposedly savage Native American groups still living in the region, the authors set high standards for their time. Their work provides insight into some of the conceptual, methodological, and substantive issues that archaeologists still confront. Long out of print, this 150th anniversary edition includes David J. Meltzer's lively introduction, which describes the controversies surrounding the book's original publication, from a bitter, decades-long feud between Squier and Davis to widespread debates about the links between race, religion, and human origins. Complete with a new index and bibliography, and illustrated with the original maps, plates, and engravings, "Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley" provides a new generation with a first-hand view of this pioneer era in American archaeology.
About the Author
David J. Meltzer is a professor of anthropology at Southern Methodist University, the editor of The Archaeology of William Henry Holmes (Smithsonian Institution Press, 1992), and the author of The Search for the First Americans (Smithsonian Institution Press, 1996).
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