Ancient Peoples of the American Southwest

Description

Most people are familiar with the famous pre-Columbian civilizations of the Aztecs and Maya of Mexico| but few realize just how advanced were contemporary cultures in the American Southwest.
Here lie some of the most remarkable monuments of America’s prehistoric past| such as Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde.
Ten thousand years ago| humans first colonized this seemingly inhospitable landscape with its scorching hot deserts and upland areas that drop below freezing even during the early summer months.
The initial hunter-gatherer bands gradually adapted to become sedentary village groups.
The high point of Southwestern civilization was reached with the emergence of cultures known as Anasazi| Hohokam| and Mogollon in the first millennium AD.
Interweaving the latest archaeological evidence with early first-person accounts| Stephen Plog explains the rise and mysterious fall of Southwestern cultures.
For this revised edition| he discusses new research and its implications for our understanding of the prehistoric Southwest.
As he concludes| the Southwest is still home to vibrant Native American communities who carry on many of the old traditions.