| | I read The Mound Builders by Robert Silverberg for the Non-Fiction Five Challenge. For various reasons, Indians built large mounds in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and a couple of southern states. The Europeans were stunned by the artificial knolls and hills because they thought only members of an advanced civilization – i.e., not American Indians - could have constructed such things.
The Euro-Americans came up with many explanations as to their builders and their purpose. These claims ranged from the sober to the wacky, thus showing that the social sciences have a long, if not entirely reputable, history in North America. This book is a fine overview of earthworks theory. He also gives just enough information about the various cultures like the Adena and Hopewell for the general reader.
Readers with an interest n the early days of anthropology and the amateur scientists will like this book as those interested in the social and academic development of archaeology as a field.
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| | Posted 7/9/2009 8:47 AM - 1 View - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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