Living Histories

Native Americans and Southwestern Archaeology

By (author) Chip Colwell-Chanthaphonh

Publication date:

16 November 2010

Length of book:

212 pages

Publisher

AltaMira Press

Dimensions:

240x162mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9780759111950

This book is about the tangled relationship between Native peoples and archaeologists in the American Southwest. Even as this relationship has become increasingly significant for both "real world" archaeological practice and studies in the history of anthropology, no other single book has synthetically examined how Native Americans have shaped archaeological practice in the Southwest and how archaeological practice has shaped Native American communities. From oral traditions to repatriations to disputes over sacred sites, the next generation of archaeologists (as much as the current generation) needs to grapple with the complex social and political history of the Southwest's Indigenous communities, the values and interests those communities have in their own cultural legacies, and how archaeological science has impacted and continues to impact Indian country.

Chapter 1 List of Figures
Chapter 2 List of Tables
Chapter 3 Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 4 Chapter 2. Histories and Traditions
Chapter 5 Chapter 3. Explorations and Contestations
Chapter 6 Chapter 4. Laws and Ethics
Chapter 7 Chapter 5. Communities and Collaborations
Chapter 8 Chapter 6. Conclusions
Chapter 9 References

Rather than reviewing what is known about the ancient Southwest, this book examines how archaeological practices have impacted living communities. Colwell-Chanthaphonh (Denver Museum of Nature and Science) usefully summarizes the alienations and entanglements between mainstream archaeological practices and southwestern Native American understandings of deep history. He concisely outlines how indigenous people historically were barred from the archaeological study of their past, and their recent (yet still incomplete) successes in breaking into the conversation. Colwell-Chanthaphonh consistently tacks back and forth between the perspectives of archaeologists and Native peoples, attempting to keep them "separate but equal." The book treats their divergent approaches to the value of the past and sites, the history of archaeological research, and federal laws governing indigenous heritage. Coverage of Native participation in and resistance to early excavations, the emergence of tribal-run heritage programs, and recent collaborative efforts between indigenous people and mainstream archaeologists is particularly strong. The volume, written for nonspecialists, will also be a great addition to introductory courses in southwestern and North American archaeology. Summing Up: Highly recommended.