Life on the River: The Archaeology of an Ancient Native American Culture, by William R. Hildebrandt and Michael J. Darcangelo

Abstract

This book is the outcome of an excavation project conducted by Far Western Anthropological Research Group, Inc., to mitigate construction impacts to archaeological site CA-SHA-1043. This is not a technical report but a research summary directed at undergraduates and interested members of the public. It is meant to inform the reader about how archaeology is done through regional examples. It includes basic descriptions of dating techniques and provides a review of the local prehistory, ethnography, and historical linguistics. The book is well written and organized, with many photos, maps, and easyto-understand figures. The traditional California chronological sequences and patterns are presented in a way that is easy to digest by the public and undergraduates. Basic archaeological methods are presented in a logical manner and categories of social organization bring back memories of some of our first classes in anthropology. It is a good book for those who are not professionals because of its general yet comprehensive approach. Because this book substitutes for a technical report, however, its representation of today’s archaeology to the public becomes even more critical. The perspectives presented to the public often become reified because they do not have access to the data, context, provenience, or depth of knowledge needed to make their own interpretations. While the authors’ objective was to educate the public, as well as beginning college students, they have missed the opportunity to reflect some changes and advances in recent attitudes towards the past. A few examples of some of the current relevant issues in archaeology that could have been included within the scope of this book include the following.