Mississippi State archaeologists Janet Rafferty and Evan Peacock have assembled this comprehensive overview of the prehistory of the Mississippi River Valley from southeastern Missouri to central Louisiana, the site of a proposed interstate highway. The heart of the area is the culturally rich and economically poor Mississippi Delta, also known as the Yazoo River Basin in northern Mississippi. Highway construction is sure to have a dramatic impact on the rich archaeological resources of the area.
Fourteen noted scholars examine the latest archaeological research from the region and they provide the reader with a view of the prehistoric mound builders who lived there. They have focused on the primary data rather than on broader issues like trade, social organization, and cultural complexity. Among the topics covered are the paleoenvironment, settlement patterns, dating, bioarchaeology, ceramics, and lithics.
Time’s River contains a wealth of information that professionals and amateurs alike will find fascinating and useful as the impact of a new major highway unfolds. We can all hope that this type of planning will lessen the adverse impacts of such a major disruption.
