Native American Archaeology in the Parks

Historian Wallace Stegner characterized America's National Park system as "the best idea we ever had." One can quibble with that, but, indeed, it was a pretty good idea! This book specifically is a guide and a celebration of 30 of those national parks, national historical parks, and national monuments that, each in its own way, reveals the histories and cultures of America's first inhabitants, the Native Americans.

Its pages will take you to:

• great mounds in Ohio where the dead were laid to rest in sumptuous splendor 2,000 years ago
• a place in Iowa where 1,000 years ago, Native Americans sculpted earth into the forms of giant bears and birds
• a quarry in Minnesota where Native People have, for hundreds of years, extracted blood-red stone for their ceremonial pipes
• the remains of a village in North Dakota visited by Lewis and Clark in the early 1800s and the home of their guide Sacagewea
• truly breathtaking, more than 700-year-old cliff dwellings in Arizona and Colorado, that will astonish you in their ethereal beauty and architectural ingenuity
• phantasmagorical images of 7-foot-tall, wide-eyed spirit beings in Utah painted more than 1,000 years ago
• And many more.

All of these sites have in common the fact that, at the insistence of Native and non-Native people, men and women, the federal government of the United States set them aside as places to preserve, study, and revere as part of the American story no matter where your ancestors came from, how they got here, or how long ago. Read this book and visit the historically sacred sites enshrined in our national parks, national historical parks, and national monuments, places that reveal the creativity and genius of the Native People of North America.

With 180 color photographs and complete visitor information, this is a wonderful guide to Native American archaeology in our national parks and monuments.

“This is both a site guide and primer on the cultures of Indigenous peoples in the U.S. Enthusiastic archaeologist /anthropologist Feder (Encyclopedia of Dubious Archaeology) provides practical details about access (driving directions, trail length, elevation, accessibility), along with the author's opinionated trail tips, which are particularly helpful and demonstrate firsthand knowledge of each site and his sense of humor. Plenty of primary-source images and quotes, alongside photographs by Feder, provide rich context for each site. Includes a brief history of the U.S. National Park Service, glossary, references, and index. Overall, this is an engaging, chatty guidebook with well-cited, nuanced explanations of North American Indigenous histories; Feder inspires respect and wonder for these sites without being didactic. This guide will appeal to both first-time and frequent visitors seeking a deeper understanding of these national parks and monuments. Particularly useful when visiting the Southwestern United States, as 23 of the 30 sites are located in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, or Colorado.”

In this volume, archaeologist Kenneth Feder, a professor emeritus at Central ConnecticutState University, guides the reader through thirty of the most important archaeological parks. His focus is on the histories and lives of the Native people who once lived there, starting with their origins and leading into the significance of various ruins. He also guides the visitor through the various sites and the trails to get to the ruins. With 180 color illustrations and complete visitor information, this guide is a complete introduction to the archaeology and history of the legacy of the people which the parks were created to preserve... This is a wonderful guide book that everyone visiting these archaeological parks will want to have in hand to lead the way.

-- "The Archaeological Conservancy"

Dr. Feder is the author of the very first archaeological textbook I read in school. For years, I've wanted to visit archaeological sites with him to learn their fascinating histories from a world-class expert. This book makes it possible. Written with authority, respect, sensitivity, and wit, this book gives a comprehensive introduction to some of the most important cultural and historical sites across what is today the United States. This is THE book that anyone with a serious interest in the past needs to read!

--Jennifer Anne Raff, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Kansas and author of the New York Times bestseller Origin: A genetic history of the Americas

I've been a fan of Ken Feder's work since I was an undergraduate reading Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries. And as before, his focus on the human aspects of famous places, and explicit centering of the histories and lives of Native Peoples in those places today, holds true to the spirit of modern archaeology and collaborative cultural heritage work. As such, this is a wonderful guidebook for anyone wanting to share the importance of that history with their friends and family, and to plan their next great road trip across America!

--Holly Walters, Lecturer in Anthropology, Wellesley College, Department of Anthropology

Ken Feder's guide to the U.S. National Parks most closely associated with our Indigenous heritage is wonderfully accessible and darn near essential. I've been to many of these sites, but after reading Feder's insightful descriptions of these magical places and their histories, I feel like I missed a lot and need to go back again. When I do, I'll have his book close at hand.

--Brad Lepper, Senior Archaeologist, World Heritage Program, Ohio History Connection

-- "Library Journal"

Kenneth L. Feder teaches at Central Connecticut State University and has directed numerous field research projects focusing on ancient settlements of the native people of southern New England. He has appeared on television documentaries on the National Geographic Channel, the BBC, the History Channel, the Discovery Channel, and the SyFy Channel. Additionally, he has been featured in a couple of episodes of William Shatner’s the Canadian- based show Weird or What? He lives in Winchester, CT.

Historian Wallace Stegner characterized America's National Park system as "the best idea we ever had." One can quibble with that, but, indeed, it was a pretty good idea! This book specifically is a guide and a celebration of 30 of those national parks, national historical parks, and national monuments that, each in its own way, reveals the histories and cultures of America's first inhabitants, the Native Americans. Its pages will take you to: great mounds in Ohio where the dead were laid to rest in sumptuous splendor 2,000 years agoa place in Iowa where 1,000 years ago, Native Americans sculpted earth into the forms of giant bears and birdsa quarry in Minnesota where Native People have, for hundreds of years, extracted blood-red stone for their ceremonial pipesthe remains of a village in North Dakota visited by Lewis and Clark in the early 1800s and the home of their guide Sacageweatruly breathtaking, more than 700-year-old cliff dwellings in Arizona and Colorado, that will astonish you in their ethereal beauty and architectural ingenuityphantasmagorical images of 7-foot-tall, wide-eyed spirit beings in Utah painted more than 1,000 years agoAnd many more.All of these sites have in common the fact that, at the insistence of Native and non-Native people, men and women, the federal government of the United States set them aside as places to preserve, study, and revere as part of the American story no matter where your ancestors came from, how they got here, or how long ago. Read this book and visit the historically sacred sites enshrined in our national parks, national historical parks, and national monuments, places that reveal the creativity and genius of the Native People of North America. With 180 color photographs and complete visitor information, this is a wonderful guide to Native American archaeology in our national parks and monuments.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.