Customer Reviews

Twelve Thousand Years: American Indians in Maine

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
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A book recommended to me by an archaeologist in Maine. I am not disappointed. The language and grammer is a bit above the lay person but with close study, you can catch on, as all is explained. A well written book covering the history with, and associated with, the Maine Native Americans. It just touches upon the associated peripheral subjects in history during each period, since volumes could be devoted to the complete history sorrounding the natives of Maine. It begins with the Ice Age and goes from there. Lots of archaeology and several hypothesis included. For anybody seriously interested in what Maine has done with their archaeology on Native Americans, I recommend this book whole-heartedly.........

In depth study of the Maine tribes and the most interesting book I have ever read. The authors are the of the highest caliber and make this study the most interesting and enjoyable reading subject. If the orginal inhabitants of Maine are of your interest then this book is your next choice.

As a prehistoric "Europeanist" archaeologist living in Maine, I believe I can state with some authority that this book makes an important contribution to the literature on Maine archaeology and prehistory. However, there is so much work that has been done in Maine - and still so much that needs to be done - that I find myself hoping that Twelve Thousand Years will inspire other Maine archaeologists (especially Native Americans) to write a more in-depth treatment that evaluates Bourque's claims (which primarily spring from his work on the Turner Farm site) and offers alternative interpretations. But, as a volume potentially inciting such a debate, this book is very good.

I am not a historical archaeologist, but, from the critical reviews I have read and Bourque's extremely limited approach (involving almost no archaeology!) to the evidence, this book does not do justice to the Historic Period. Chapters IV-VII should be culled from the text and the preceding chapters enhanced with more illustrations, maps, photos, and side-bar boxes.