Great Excavations: Tales of Early Southwestern Archaeology, 1888-1939

by Melinda Elliott

The magnificent ruins of the prehistoric peoples of the American Southwest have always been a source of wonder and awe. But the stories of the men and women who devoted their lives to the discovery and study of these lost cultures and the places they called home have never before been adequately told. Now, in Great Excavations , journalist and researcher Melinda Elliott uncovers the crucial and exciting role played by the great archaeologists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in unearthing the Southwest's prehistoric past. With chapters on Mesa Verde, Pecos Pueblo, Aztec Ruin, Hawikuh, Pueblo Bonito, Chaco Canyon, Snaketown, Awatovi, and the Rainbow Bridge-Monument Valley Expedition.

272 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1995

Reviews

[litost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elliott explores the history and the people behind eight of the Southwests great archaeological sites:
* Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde
* Pecos Pueblo
* Aztec Ruin
* Hawikuh, Zuni
* Pueblo Bonito, Chaco Canyon
* Snaketown
* Awatovi, Hopi
* Rainbow Bridge-Monument Valley

As a professional journalist, Elliott remains neutral throughout her descriptions, not dwelling on the acrimony between academics that seems to be such a mainstay of Southwestern archaeology. I enjoyed learning about each of these major ruins, though eight may be too many. I’m having difficulty distinguishing one from the other, like a collection of short stories all with the same plot: they came, they dug, they left without writing a final report. Overall, an interesting read, but only for those with a strong interest in Southwestern archaeology.

[David Iverson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating account of 8 earlyarchaeological excacations in the southwest . I learned quite a lot I didnt know about these expeditions and saw many photographs I had not seen before, although I have been reading books about this subject t for more than 30 years.