Review by Choice Review
O'Brien's book is ostensibly a history of archaeology in the state of Missouri, but it is more than that, because the story is set within the evolution of American archaeology as it emerged over more than 100 years. Readers will discover the factors that drove archaeology nationally, seen through their impact on the doing of archaeology in Missouri, a technique that permits in-depth exploration of sites and analyses of artifacts through time. O'Brien begins in the 19th century, with the first appearance of professional archaeologists. He shows how the discipline solidified between 1911 and 1940, and changed after WW II. The development of the new archaeology c.1960 had little effect on Missouri archaeology at first, but in the 1970s and '80s, environmental studies and the demands of cultural resource management brought Missouri archaeology more in line with the rest of the country. The final portion of the book contains an excellent discussion of "evolutionary" approaches championed by the author. A superb overview with plenty of modern method and theory. Highly recommended. All levels. W. A. Longacre University of Arizona
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
