Time's river : archaeological syntheses from the lower Mississippi River Valley /

This 500-plus-page book written by 17 contributors purports to be a synthesis of the archaeology of the Lower Mississippi River Valley, and it is, to a degree. More accurately, it is a synthesis of needs: the types of data and information needed to achieve an archaeological synthesis. To that end, the book focuses on a corridor in northwest Mississippi that will be impacted by the construction of Interstate 69 (from Brownsville, Texas, to Detroit, Michigan). By summarizing what is known about the archaeology of this part of the I-69 corridor, and especially the limitations of that knowledge, it hopes to influence the collection of data not only from that segment, but along the entire run of the highway. The study outlines the theoretical framework believed to be needed to collect and analyze data on environmental setting, site layout, structures, ceramics, lithics, flora and fauna, and human biology. It additionally considers these needs related to dating and chronological periods of which there is the least knowledge: proto-historic and historic times, including data on slavery and post-Civil War Reconstruction. Written for professional archaeologists, particularly those who will actually be doing cultural resource management work on this highway right-of-way. Summing Up: Recommended. Faculty, professionals. P. J. O'Brien emeritus, Kansas State University