California Indians and Their Environment: An Introduction Volume 96 (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780520256903)

Capturing the vitality of California's unique indigenous cultures, this major new introduction incorporates the extensive research of the past thirty years into an illuminating, comprehensive synthesis for a wide audience. Based in part on new archaeological findings, it tells how the California Indians lived in vibrant polities, each boasting a rich village life including chiefs, religious specialists, master craftspeople, dances, feasts, and ceremonies. Throughout, the book emphasizes how these diverse communities interacted with the state's varied landscape, enhancing its already bountiful natural resources through various practices centered around prescribed burning. A handy reference section, illustrated with more than one hundred color photographs, describes the plants, animals, and minerals the California Indians used for food, basketry and cordage, medicine, and more. At a time when we are grappling with the problems of maintaining habitat diversity and sustainable economies, we find that these native peoples and their traditions have much to teach us about the future, as well as the past, of California.

Author: Kent Lightfoot, Otis Parrish
ISBN-10: 0520256905
ISBN-13: 9780520256903
Publisher: University of California Press
Language: English
Published: 04/24/2009
Pages: 512
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.55lbs
Size: 7.20h x 4.50w x 1.30d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 02/01/2010