Ancient America: Fifty Archaeological Sites to See for Yourself

by Kenneth L. Feder

Presenting “the real deal” of American antiquity—as opposed to the hyped fare of many cable TV shows—Kenneth Feder invites readers to explore the stunning technological, architectural, engineering, and artistic achievements of America’s first peoples.

Part travel guide, part friendly reference, Ancient America showcases fifty iconic and publicly-accessible sites located across the contiguous United States—including monumental pyramids of earth, “castles” ensconced in cliff niches, and vast rock art galleries. Among the places profiled are four World Heritage Sites (Chaco Canyon, NM; Mesa Verde, CO; Cahokia, IL; Poverty Point, LA); numerous Historic Landmarks and National Monuments (including Crystal River, FL; Town Creek Mound, NC; Casa Grande, AZ; and Hovenweep, UT); and stunningly diverse sites ranging from Serpent Mound (OH) and Horsethief Lake (WA) to Canyon de Chelly (AZ) and Nine Mile Canyon (UT).

In addition to practical visitor information, Feder tells the fascinating stories of each site as revealed by archaeological research. Introductory chapters delve into the deep past of Native America; historical and cultural details as well as original photography round out the site entries. Readers will be inspired to visit these remarkable places where the past continues to resonate in the present.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Travel, Science, Reference, Archaeology

256 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 2019

Reviews

[Frank Hofer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good reference I use when traveling, but I keep asking "how could you not talk about (insert one of my favorite places)." But honestly I'd love an entire section on petroglyphs.

[Les Gehman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been fortunate enough to have visited 17 of these sites, and can verify the accuracy of the description provided by the author. Each site only gets 3-4 pages in the book, so there isn't room for the author to provide all the details you may want. View this book as a starting point for your additional research into these sites and you will find you have been well directed. Web sites for additional information are included for most of the sites, and the appendix includes an excellent list of books for further reading, and a list of additional sites you may wish to visit.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of wonderful info here for archaeology nerds. Wish the type were bigger, but i'm saying that about pretty much everything these days.