Customer Reviews

Cowboys and Cave Dwellers: Basketmaker Archaeology in Utah's Grand Gulch

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Undoubtedly the popular book of the year in Southwest archaeology, "Cowboys and Cave Dwellers" tells how a group of talented and dedicated "amateurs" found the missing links between nearly forgotten collections of artifacts stored in museum basements and their original sites in Utah's spectacular Grand Gulch. In the process they unearthed valuable information about the people called Basketmakers, the first farmers of the Colorado Plateau. The first explorers and untrained archaeologists who dug sites in Grand Gulch removed thousands of artifacts, often taking little care to record their locations. By carefully matching old photographs, diaries, newspaper articles and the signatures those adventurers carved on the canyon walls, the authors of this book, the members of the Wetherill-Grand Gulch Research Project, were able to locate many of the caves and cliff dwelling where the treasures were originally found. They solved one of the most puzzling mysteries of Southeastern Utah archaeology: the location of long lost Cave 7, where Mesa Verde discoverer Richard Whetherill dug up dozens of skeletons that seemed to show evidence of a massacre. A good story with extensive historial and archaeological background and beautifully illustrated, this book is essential for anyone interested in Southwest archaeology. A good companion piece is William Ferguson's "The Anasazi of Mesa Verde and the Four Corners Region," which gives a broader view of the entire Mesa Verde-San Juan region.

I appreciated this book, not just for the fantastic illustrations and stories, but for improving the reputation of the Wetherills, long considered no-good cowboy pot hunters. A great companion to this books is In Search of the Old Ones by David Roberts, in which Fred Blackburn features largely as a revolutionary who shapes Roberts' thinking about the mess each generation of southwestern archeologists passes on to the next.

Grand Gulch country is some of the best in the Southwest. A unique canyon that winds its way down to the San Juan river it also boasts an amazing array of cave sites of ancient Native American dwellings. Some are larger than others, containing houses and artifacts. Many have been harmed by exposure to people. Nevertheless because many are far up into the cliffs they have been well preserved. This book tells the tale of a numerb of items taken from the caves that then became useless to archeology because people did not know from whence they came. THe story examines the history of the attempt to reconnect them to their origins and thus help archeology understand the history of the American SOuthwest. It is both the history of early American archeology and this unique canyon and its off-shoots. A wonderful book.

Seth J. Frantzman

Fred won't like it when I say this, but he is a legend. He is a wealth of knowledge and experience. He is a pioneer. His integrity speaks for itself, daily, in his work and life.

You can't hardly read a modern book anywhere near this subject without seeing his name and this book referenced - with good reason. One of his valuable contributions to history is "Reverse Archaeology", the study of what we already have around us, allowing for the discovery of new. This doesn't only apply to archaeology research. Smiles.

Fred Blackburn has made significant and positive accession to American History, still is, and will long after he's left this life.
He has done The Work.
Instead of focusing on personal achievement, he has networked throughout the field of southwest research, education, and humanity, bringing people together, touching individuals from the lecture podium to remote camps, making endless contributions, small and large.

This book is a slice of some of his valuable work. His dedication to the Wetherill Family is replete. If you have any interest in Southwest history, this book will take prime seating on your shelf when it's not in your lap.
Most people I know who have read this, read it many times.
Thank you for getting this done Fred!
-- Juju --

This is a great read for anyone familiar with the the Four Corners area and its history. Well written, interesting insight into the Cowboys who explored the ancient ruins in Utah's Grand Gulch area.

A superb book. Very informative, well written, and filled with great photos. I recommend this book, for what that's worth.