Review by Choice Review
The essays in this collection make major contributions to the archaeology of colonialism, the interpretation of the colonial experience, and the decolonizing of anthropology. The scope is global and ranges from North America to Australia, Africa to Latin America. The authors examine how the inclusion of Indigenous histories and collaboration with descendant communities make for a more nuanced understanding of the processes of colonialism. Until quite recently, the common portrayal of colonist/native relations was that of a space of conflict dominated by warriors, raiders, and victims, an approach that gave rise to the "vanishing Indian" myth and its consort, the assumption that colonized people lose their cultural knowledge. In place of sharp temporal divides (before and after "contact") and cultural disintegration, the authors opt for transitions that combine both change and continuity. Such an approach offers valuable insights on culture history. For example, it is significant that, as was the case with Aztec expansion, not a few Indigenous groups had prior experience of being colonized. Similarly relevant is the fact that long before Portuguese ascendancy, West African societies were connected to the Mediterranean world via trans-Saharan networks. Authors stress that recognition of Indigenous knowledge and practice also requires restructuring power relations. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. O. Pi-Sunyer emeritus, University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
