Iowa's Archaeological Past

Lynn Alex. 2000. Iowa's Archaeological Past. University of Iowa Press, Iowa City. ISBN 0-87745-681-X (paper). 243 pages, plus 69 pages of a glossary and references, and an index.

For the first time in a while, this is a book I actually know something about the topic before I opened it. I work in Iowa, and have worked there for most of my career, and when I heard that Lynn Alex was going to publish a new version of her 1980 book Exploring Iowa's Past, I looked forward to an accurate depiction of the past as archaeologists understand it, written in plain English. Iowa's Archaeological Past does not disappoint.

The first three chapters of the book are an introduction to the science of archaeology, the history of Iowa archaeology, and a discussion of the landscapes of Iowa, an unusual chapter in introduction archaeology texts, but peculiarly suited to Iowa. Iowa has been among the frontrunners of the use of geomorphological studies in archaeology, and the landscape--particularly soil packages in watersheds--are a crucial piece of understanding the puzzle.

Chapters 4 through 11 are presentations of the current information on the past of Iowa, arranged chronologically from Paleoindian through Protohistoric and Early Historic periods. The final chapter presents a compelling argument for stewardship, the preservation of the past.

Liberally illustrated with black and white drawings and photographs, not to mention 20 color plates, the book includes a brief glossary and an extensive bibliography. Directed to the interested enthusiast, nonetheless the book contains a level of research that will be most useful to professionals as well. Great cover art by Lance Foster, too.

Iowa's Archaeological Past is an excellent example of the regional introductory text you'd like to be able to hand out to people who want to know: Now, just what it is you archaeologists do?