When the Land Was Young: Reflections on American Archaeology - Rilegato

Sharman Apt Russell skillfully weaves together the stories of our land--from the ancient burial site of a gentle people who lived in eastern Florida seven to eight thousand years ago, to the Hopewell Indians in Ohio--with the personalities and techniques of present-day archaeology.As Russell explains, American archaeology has reached a crossroads. In a discipline that is caught between science and humanities, ancient sites can be seen as sources of data--or as nonrenewable resources that must be conserved. Moreover, many Native Americans consider excavation to be a form of desecration. Who owns the past?American archaeology is full of such intense questions, controversies, and emotional debates--from when humans first entered North America to the angst inherent in the field--can we ever really know the past? A lyrical tale of flesh and blood as well as dust and bones, When the Land Was Young brings to life as never before the study of the past.