Customer Reviews

Deep Time and the Texas High Plains: History and Geology (Grover E. Murray Studies in the American Southwest)

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Texas Tech U. professor of history Carlson writes a short, though comprehensive, overview of the Texas high plains region. This region borders New Mexico in the area of the Texas panhandle. The Rio Bravos is a major geographical feature; and the most important geological and archaeological site is known as the Lubbock Lake Landmark. The overview seamlessly weaves geology, anthropology, and history. Carlson covers human inhabitants from the earliest pre-Columbian Native Americans to the founding of large ranches and growth of cities in the 1800s. Excavations at the Lubbock Lake site "reveal clearly that humans have occupied the place periodically over the last twelve thousand years." Carlson also covers the animal species changing according to the changing natural conditions of the area.

This book is no barn burner. First, paper book jacket, minus ten points. The book is comprehensive, to say the least. Covers from the beginnings of earth..which is go be expected considering the geology associated with the discussion. I had hoped a little more information, and details both on the Lubbock Lake archaeology site, and on William Curry Holden, Phd, who was the guru of anthropology and archaeology for a wide portion of west Texas, Mexico and New Mexico. Professor Holden was a man of huge importance, and the likes of him will rarely be seen again in this century.
I did enjoy the listing of the fauna associated with the Lubbock lake site, thought the treatment of the historical times was a bit light. Little or no recognition of the local amateur archaeological society given. Playa lakes lightly discussed. Still a nice book and reasonably priced, would like to see a hefty volume (500 pages) on the Lubbock Lake site archaelogy with in depth information (photos and written desciption and interpretation) written in layman's terminology.

Any man who quotes John McPhee ("Basin and Range") probably has his head screwed on right.

Prof. Paul H. Carlson of Texas Tech University has produced an excellent study of West Texas with "Deep Time and the Texas High Plains: History and Geology." While it is a relatively thin book (141 pages), it is meaty. The information is based on the University's work at Lubbock Lake Landmark on the outskirts of Lubbock, Texas. It begins with the big bang and ends in the twentieth century. In this span, he covers the geology, archaeology, and history of the area. The only sour note is an illustration attempting to show the difference in pelvic structures of the two orders of dinosaurs. The text is correct, the illustration is not.

This is the book, so far, to go to for the natural history of the Llano Estacado. (Think I'll see what else Carlson has written.)