Archaeology of The Southwest

by Linda S. Cordell

The successful Prehistory of the Southwest has been updated with twelve years of new research in the field. The new edition is entitled Archaeology of the Southwest, and it provides a coherent and comprehensive summary of the major themes and topics central to the modern practice and interpretation of Southwest archaeology. Cordell's text is the best study on the market. After an extensive review process, the revision addresses specific issues in order to effectively meet the audience's interests and demands. This new edition introduces new data and syntheses of information, including those available through advanced technology. It presents reconceptualized chapters, and provides new or improved illustrations throughout the text.

Key Features
* Offers a readable and accurate representation of current debates and research in the American Southwest
* Challenges readers to integrate the structure and meaning of various broad regional trends that preceded the European conquest
* Covers the latest in field research and topical syntheses
* Addresses curricular cultural diversity requirements
* Contains new maps, line drawings, and photos

Genres: Archaeology, History, Native American, Nonfiction, Anthropology

522 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Silvio Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An earlier edition of this textbook was recommended in A History of the Ancient Southwest and they complement each other well, though it probably would have been better to read this book first. It's more comprehensive and I'm guessing less controversial. There's a full chapter on the Paleo-Indian and Archaic periods, before agriculture came to the area, and also a chapter on archaeological contributions to post-conquest history. In the 500-1500 time range that Lekson's book mostly deals with, this does talk a good deal about political systems too but has a lot more about things like farming techniques. There's most detail about the Ancestral Pueblo/Anasazi. I was surprised after Lekson how little this book talked about the Hohokam and how late in time that little was focused. Cordell sounds like she doesn't share Lekson's view that the so-called Classic Hohokam were already well into a collapse.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Bible for introductory archaeology classes on the archaeology of the Southwest. My rating is actually 3 1/2. For a textbook, it’s okay - but the format left much to be desired. Not a very logical flow for the student. Lots of using the index and flipping back and forth to pick up a topic left behind somewhere in the last chapter.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now in its third edition, it’s a classic textbook on Southwest archaeology.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the textbook for my class I took on Southwest Archaeology. It is a scholarly text and densely packed with references to field research.

[AskHistorians]

A comprehensive look by two of the most respected names in the field