The late Pleistocene/early Holocene period (ca. 12,500 years ago) was a time of retreating glaciers and expanding human activity. Many large mammals were declining, perhaps in part due to over hunting. Archaeologists call these people Paleo-Indians, the first Americans, and usually look for evidence of these hunter-gatherers in caves, rock shelters, and big kill sites.
In this informative study archaeologists examine paleo sites in the open air, which are much more difficult to research due to their many superimposed events, poor preservation, and surroundings. Twenty-five scholars contribute to nine essays that detail work at six American sites from Alaska to New Mexico, plus one each in Germany and Siberia. Using new technologies and excavation techniques, the authors demonstrate how large amounts of data can be recovered from otherwise difficult environments. This represents a much needed examination of paleo sites that have been elusive and promises to add new information about the lives and lifestyles of some of the earliest Americans. It should inspire paleo archaeologists to gain important new information from sites located in the open air.
