No place is more symbolic of American archaeology that the spectacular ruins of Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado. Much of Southwestern archaeology got its start there and in the thousands of nearby ruins of the Four Corners. Distinguished archaeologist and historian of archaeology Florence Lister has produced a delightful history of this era that is full of anecdotes and humor.
Lister begins with archaeological pioneers like the Wetherill family, William Henry Jackson, and Gustaf Nordenskiöld. Legends of archaeology like Sylvanus Morley, Edger Lee Hewett, Earl Morris, and Alfred Kidder play an important role as well. Lister weaves a tale of inquiry and adventure in one of the world’s most dramatic and interesting archaeological regions. It is also the story of how archaeology became a science and how women gained acceptance in the profession, including the author herself. The story continues today as new generations of archaeologists build on the successes and mistakes of the past. After a century of exploration, much has been learned, but many of the central questions remain as baffling as they were 100 years ago.
