[Aztlan] book alert

[Diehl, Richard]

Hola Listeros,

 

I recently read two outstanding books on New World archaeology that I
want to share with you. Neither has anything to do with Mesoamerica and
both were written by non traditional, non-academic writers, perhaps the
reason they are so well written and interesting.

 

1.    House of Rain: Tracking a Vanished Civilization across the
American Southwest by Craig Childs is a fabulous personal account by
someone the book cover describes as "a naturalist, adventurer, and
frequent contributor to National Public Radio's Morning Edition". He
also is very well versed in Southwestern archaeology and has walked the
entire region on foot. That approach gives him a unique perspective and
leads to some major new insights.

 

2.    The Ice Maiden: Inca Mummies, Mountain Gods and Sacred Sites in
the Andes by anthropologist/ explorer Johan Rinehart is a fascinating
account of his investigation of the sacrificed children he has recovered
at the top of Andean mountains. He is an Explorer in Residence at the
National Geographic Society and has outstanding anthropological
credentials even though he has followed a rather unusual career track. 

 

My professors always warned me to NEVER pay attention to people who
called themselves adventurers or explorers ("very non-professional
people who pander to the public" is one phrase I remember). Nevertheless
both books are solid, accurate accounts of important trips of discovery
that are hard to put down. Either would make a great companion on a
chilly autumn afternoon.