Peoples of the Northwest Coast: Their Archaeology and Prehistory

by Kenneth M. Ames, Herbert D. G. Maschner

America's Northwest Coast is one of the richest and most distinct cultural areas on earth, extending some 1400 miles from Alaska to northern California. The region is famous for the magnificent art--masks, totem poles, woven blankets--produced by the ancient world's most politically and economically complex hunters and gatherers. For well over a century the area has been the focus of intensive ethnographic and art historical research, yet a distorted picture has arisen of a static society, a "people without a history." Only now, thanks to recent archaeological fieldwork, are scholars recovering that history. As this pioneering account shows, the history of settlement on the Northwest Coast stretches back some eleven thousand years. With the stabilization of sea levels after 4000 B.C., many of the region's salient features began to emerge. Salmon fishing supported rapid population growth to a peak over one thousand years ago, and the available trees such as red cedar could be used for vast houses and seaworthy canoes. Large households and permanent villages emerged alongside slavery and a hereditary nobility. Warfare became endemic, initially hand-to-hand, but later characterized by the development of fortresses and the bow and arrow. Art evolved from simple carvings and geometric designs to the specialized crafts of the modern era.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Anthropology, Archaeology, Indigenous, Native American History

272 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1999

Reviews

[AskHistorians]

This is an excellent introductory text on the prehistory of a diverse region that spans from Cape Mendocino, California to the Alaskan Panhandle and includes at least 12,000 years of native use. Well written, interesting and in-depth, this text will be well received by both the interested lay audience and serious students of American archaeology at all levels.

[Warren Wulff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible review of 15 000 years of culture that spans such a diverse region. The authors take a strictly scientific approach and are honest at saying what is more or less certain about First Nations economies, housing, art development, etc. and how these concepts changed with time and geography. Now 20 years old, it would be great to see a second edition as I’m sure there’s been advances in all fields. Still, a great introductory text as is and helps fill in the history of this region before the first Western explorers.

[Alan Bach · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of the PNW books recommended in reddit AskHistorians. This book seems a bit old and therefore possibly out of date, and trusting random people on the internet isn't always the best idea, but what do I know this subreddit is supposedly heavily moderated to allow actual historians to answer.

The pictures and diagrams in this book are great, and worth perusing just for that. The rest of the book while providing some insight on pre-industrial life that I had never thought of before was disappointing. The most egregious is its mention that many people who reached adulthood did not live past their 30s; this is a common misconception caused by infant mortality dragging down average age: if you survive that you are fairly likely to live until old age. The structure of the book while chaptered by specific topics often within each chapter failed to give an overall picture of what the housing or warfare or what not of different regions were. Instead, it is usually a chronological account with various anecdotes that feel jumbled and incomplete. I understand that history is limited by what information we have left, but for example for a book that fevotes so many pages to show the regional separation of trade or art or what not of different groups I want to be able to make the distinction of which belongs to whcih. The book is also too focused on namedropping academic findings, when mentioning who and who would be better left in the endnotes.

Pay attention the subtitle of the book: it is much more on the archaeology side of things than a history book. Which is not what I was looking for but is not the book's fault.

[Stidmama · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very scholarly book -- more detailed than most readers would enjoy. Still, it is packed with great information and used as a background for understanding the cultures involved it is valuable. It assumes a college-level reading ability and interest.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very detailed for a general overview, with good and innovative maps and illustrations. Highly recommended as an intro to the subject and as guide to further study due to the overview of the literature and the great bibliography.