The Oxford Handbook of North American Archaeology

This book explores 15,000 years of indigenous human history on the North American continent, drawing on the latest archaeological theories, time-honored methodologies, and rich datasets. From the Arctic south to the Mexican border and east to the Atlantic Ocean, all of the major cultural developments are covered in 53 articles, with certain periods, places, and historical problems receiving special focus by the authors. Issues such as who first peopled the continent, what it meant to have been a hunter-gatherer in the Great Basin versus the California coast, how significant cultural exchanges were between Native North Americans and Mesoamericans, and why major historical changes seem to correspond to shifts in religion, politics, demography, and economy are brought into focus. The practice of archaeology itself is discussed as contributors wrestle with modern-day concerns, and with the implications of doing archaeology and its relevance for understanding ourselves today. In the end, the articles show us that the principal questions answered about human history through the archaeology of North America are central to any larger understanding of the relationships between people, cultural identities, landscapes, and the living of everyday life.