Prehistory of the AmericasFiedel's book exploring the development of the prehistoric cultures of North, Central and South America from about 10,000 BC to AD 1530 has been updated to include discussion of recent discoveries and analyses of their implications. Prehistory of the Americas examines archaeological evidence of the earliest human migration from Asia to the New World; the rapid expansion of Paleo-Indian hunters; the adaptations of archaic hunter-gatherers to post-Ice Age life; the origins and spread of farming and village life; and the rise and fall of chiefdoms and states. The author describes how different regions in the New World evolved, affected by a variety of factors ranging from technological developments to climate change. He compares the evolution of New World prehistory with that of Old World cultures. Discussion of the development of American archaeology, from the early European encounters with native Americans to the 'new' archaeology, is also included. |
Contents
The development of American archaeology a brief review | 1 |
From Africa to Siberia early human migrations in the Old World | 22 |
The PaleoIndians | 39 |
The Archaic postPleistocene foragers | 84 |
The origins of agriculture and village life | 166 |
Chiefdoms and states the emergence of complex societies | 229 |
Parallel worlds | 349 |
References | 367 |
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Common terms and phrases
Adena agriculture American Antiquity Anasazi animals appear archaeological archaeologists Arctic artifacts assemblages atlatl Aztec Basin bison bones burials C14 dates California carved Cave centers central ceramic ceremonial Chavín chiefdoms civilization Clovis points coastal complex copper cultivation culture deer developed earlier early eastern Eskimos evidence excavated figurines fish fluted points forest groups highlands Hohokam Hopewell human hunter-gatherers hunters hunting Inca Indians inhabitants Lake Late Archaic lowlands MacNeish maize mammals Maya Mesoamerica Mexican Mexico migration Mississippian Monte Albán mounds native North America northeastern northern Northwest Coast occupied Olmec Paleo-Indian period Peru phase pit-houses plants platform Pleistocene population pottery Poverty Point prehistoric probably pueblos Puerto Hormiga recent region remains River seeds seems settlement shell Siberia similar skeletons skull societies South southern squash style subsistence suggests Tehuacan temple teosinte Teotihuacán Tiahuanaco Tikal tradition Upper Paleolithic Valdivia Valley vessels villages western woodlands