Overview

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.

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9781442263123

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Reviews

Ken Feder is one of those rare scholars who can make seemingly esoteric concepts accessible and enjoyable to a general audience. And now he's written a travel guide, but it is unlike any I've read-not just a list of places to visit but a guided tour of ancient America and its peoples that is both educational and fun. Think Carl Sagan meets Bill Bryson. -- Michael Alan Park, Central Connecticut State University America has a hidden history, but fortunately for us, archaeologist Kenneth Feder knows where it's hiding. He's been there and back again and in this wonderfully entertaining guidebook he shares his personal recommendations for the top fifty ancient American sites you should see before you die. Pick any ten of these sites to visit and, with Feder as your guide, your views of America's ancient past will be transformed. Ancient America is a unique gazetteer and guide to fifty major archaeological sites in North America. Feder provides engaging description and wise guidance, as well as his own journal entries when visiting the sites. Both students and general readers could not wish for a better companion. -- Brian Fagan, University of California Santa Barbara, author of Ancient North America The magnificent archaeological sites left by America's native peoples are wondrous enough without the myths and exaggerations that often contaminate popular discussions about them. There is no one better than archaeologist and writer Kenneth Feder at debunking the misconceptions and stereotypes and then showing in reader-friendly prose what's real and true. The fifty sites in this welcome and lively new book Ancient America reveal an extraordinary legacy of intelligent and capable ancient peoples and cultures. Let Feder be your personable guide and host. -- Kendrick Frazier, editor of Skeptical Inquirer, author of People of Chaco: A Canyon and Its Culture Ancient America takes readers on a journey to prehistoric North American archaeological sites, some well-known and others little-known, each significant in its own way. Feder's style is sometimes whimsical but always informative, and he relates his own personal experiences at each site. He encourages the reader to add these sites to their travels and to learn more about the amazing accomplishments of the diverse cultures that once inhabited ancient America. -- William R. Iseminger, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site Kenny leads us on a cross country virtual tour of some of the most accessible archaeological sites in the U.S. spanning over 13,000 years and invites us to see them for ourselves to appreciate the diversity, adaptability, and creativity of America's original inhabitants. Start with this book as your guide and you will experience all of that. -- Andrew Sawyer, SunWatch Indian Village/Archaeological Park

Author Information

Kenneth L. Feder, professor of anthropology at Central Connecticut State University, specializes in the archaeology of North America. He is author of several books, including Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries: Science and Pseudoscience in Archaeology and The Past in Perspective: A Brief Introduction to Human Prehistory. Feder has appeared on numerous television documentaries on the National Geographic Channel, the BBC's Horizon, the History Channel, the Discovery Channel, and the SyFy Channel and has been featured in episodes of the Canadian-based William Shatner’s Weird or What?

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