California’s Ancient Past


Book Description

“California’s Ancient Past is an excellent introduction and overview of the archaeology and ancient peoples of this diverse and dynamic part of North America. Written in a concise and approachable format, the book provides an excellent foundation for students, the general public, and scholars working in other regions around the world. This book will be an important source of information on California’s ancient past for years to come.” —Torben C. Rick, Smithsonian Institution "California's Ancient Past is a well written, highly informative, and thought-provoking book; it will make a significant contribution to California archaeology. It is highly readable—the text and materials covered are suitable for both scholars and interested lay people. The book is well organized...with discussions about the culture history and theoretical perspectives of California archaeology and . . . the latest and most relevant references." —Kent Lightfoot, University of California, Berkeley “With California’s Ancient Past, Arnold and Walsh [offer] a well-written, interesting, and succinct archaeological summary of California from the terminal Pleistocene to historic contact.” —David S. Whitley, Journal of Anthropological Research




California Prehistory


Book Description

Reader of original synthesizing articles for introductory courses on archaeology and native peoples of California.




Violence and Warfare among Hunter-Gatherers


Book Description

How did warfare originate? Was it human genetics? Social competition? The rise of complexity? Intensive study of the long-term hunter-gatherer past brings us closer to an answer. The original chapters in this volume examine cultural areas on five continents where there is archaeological, ethnographic, and historical evidence for hunter-gatherer conflict despite high degrees of mobility, small populations, and relatively egalitarian social structures. Their controversial conclusions will elicit interest among anthropologists, archaeologists, and those in conflict studies.




Hunter-Gatherer Adaptation and Resilience


Book Description

Explores the variety of ways in which hunter-gatherer societies have responded to external stressors while maintaining their core identity.







North American Indigenous Warfare and Ritual Violence


Book Description

This groundbreaking book presents clear evidence—from multiple academic disciplines—that indigenous populations engaged in warfare and ritual violence long before European contact.




The Taking and Displaying of Human Body Parts as Trophies by Amerindians


Book Description

This edited volume mainly focuses on the practice of taking and displaying various body parts as trophies in both North and South America. The editors and contributors (which include Native Peoples from both continents) examine the evidence and causes of Amerindian trophy taking. Additionally, they present objectively and discuss dispassionately the topic of human proclivity toward ritual violence. This book fills the gap in literature on this subject.