Twelve Thousand Years: American Indians in Maine (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The Gulf of Maine has a rich history of archaeological research that goes back to the 1839 discovery of coastal shell middens. Bourque, chief archaeologist and curator of ethnography at the Maine State Museum, surveys the findings of this archaeological research as well as the ethnohistorical record, providing a thorough history of the Paleo-Indian period to the present from a Native American perspective. Drawing upon diverse sources and incorporating various archival materials and museum collections, Bourque attests to a formerly underappreciated cultural dynamism that resulted from extensive interaction with groups throughout the peninsula. The substantial appendix on traditional material culture is richly detailed with ethnohistorical accounts and illustrations of wigwams, canoes, and dress. The prose is scholarly but accessible to the lay reader. Appropriate for all academic and larger public libraries, particularly those with an interest in American archaeology and history. Nancy B. Turner, New Mexico State Univ. Lib., Las Cruces

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A pioneering work of ambitious scope. . . . This substantial book is a significant contribution to the field."—Connecticut Review

(Connecticut Review )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 369 pages
• Publisher: University of Nebraska Press; First Edition edition (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803213107
• ISBN-13: 978-0803213104
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,700,758 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #79 in

  Books > History > Americas > Native American > Northeast

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, just Outstanding, April 1, 2002

By	Andrew Floyd (Rochester, NH United States) - See all my reviews

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.........

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The only one of its kind for Maine, but..., March 31, 2006

By	M. J. Kimball (Machias, Maine) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Twelve Thousand Years: American Indians in Maine (Paperback)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Twelve Thousand Years: American Indians in Maine, January 31, 2009

By	Dale B. Curtis "RETIRED COP" (BORN IN MAINE, LIVING IN EXILE) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Twelve Thousand Years: American Indians in Maine (Paperback)

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.