Fantastic Archaeology: The Wild Side of North American Prehistory

The landscape of the nineteenth century Williams asserts is dotted with fakes frauds and humbugs whose fantastic claims of purported findings would make even P. T. Barnum blush. In Fantastic Archaeology Williams takes them all on with gustoilluminating debunking and instructing on the modes methods manners and manifestations of American archaeology through the past two centuries. The author begins his walk on the wild side of North American archaeology with a fascinating introduction to the continents real past. Then acting as detective he answers the questions Who Found It? Who Done It? Who Twisted the Facts? From solemn old professionals like Samuel Haven to eccentric "odd fishes" like Constantine Rafinesque from brash "free thinkers" like Harold S. Gladwin to stoic strategists like A. V. Kidder Williams enthusiastically portrays them all. The big issues are here too: the quest for the first Americans the transoceanic search for links to distant civilizations and the meaning of ancient writings. From monstrous stone giants to mysterious messages from the past right up to the real story of Americas archaeological past the author unearths a wondrous tale that will amaze delight and inform professional and general readers alike.