Chaco Canyon: Archaeology and Archaeologists

by Robert H. Lister, Florence C. Lister

Chaco Canyon, sprawled in the desert of northwestern New Mexico and uninhabited since the twelfth century, is one of North America's richest archaeological zones. This lavishly illustrated book is the first complete account of Chacoan archaeology, from the discovery of the ruins by Spanish soldiers in the seventeenth century through the scientific analyses of the 1970s. The authors follow the history of Chacoan archaeology with a vivid portrayal of the day-to-day lives of the Anasazi Indians, the Neolithic farmers who abandoned the region some 800 years ago. Though intended for the general reading public with an interest in archaeology, this book will be useful to professionals as well, as a compendium of information and photography hitherto scattered in numerous separate reports and monographs. Particularly valuable is a list of all investigated sites at Chaco Canyon, including location, features, dates, and other pertinent information.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

298 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 1981

About the author

Robert Hill Lister

Reviews

[Vanessa · Rating 1 out of 5]

The references to Pueblo people as “simple” and describing their burial practices as “revolting” are a stark reminder of the racism that has plagued anthropology for over a century. I’m willing to give it a 1.5 star because it does compile a useful history of archaeologists’ work, as maddening as the entitlement and plundering of ancient sacred sites may be.

[Sherrill Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An exhaustive study of one of the Anasazi sites in New Mexico, in 1981. The area has been expanded since the text.

The pre-history to the present day is covered, with many black and white photographs, some from the National Geographic. It is worrisome that "rubble" was carried "away" by the cartload. No theories are presented about the fate of the Anasazi, unlike Childs in House of Rain.