Indigenous life around the Great Lakes : war, climate, and culture /

Edwards (Univ. of Wisconsin, Milwaukee) presents the findings of his long-term investigation of the Koshkonong Locality in southeastern Wisconsin in relation to other Oneota localities within the western Great Lakes region covering Wisconsin and upper Illinois. He analyzes macrobotanical data and uses a canine surrogacy approach to evaluate and discern changes in diet from one locality to another and within localities over time. While the evidence is at times spotty, it is sufficient for him to show the overall similarity of Oneota localities while still acknowledging significant individual variability, and to demonstrate that the Oneota were maize agriculturalists. Edwards's data will be of great value to other archaeologists working in the region, providing a summary of what is known about the Oneota and ideas for continued research to uncover new information. For the general archaeological community his demonstration that agriculture was organized among the Oneota without accompanying social complexity and hierarchy should serve as a wakeup call for all to carefully examine long-held assumptions. This is a valuable study for its methods, its comparative analysis, and its conclusions about agriculture and cultural complexity. Summing Up: Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty; professionals. --LUCILLE Lewis JOHNSON, emerita, Vassar College