Beginning, in 1492, with Columbus and his crew landing somewhere in the vicinity of the Caribbean island of San Salvador, Adovasio relates the myths about the first people to inhabit the New World as well as proven facts intertwined with the ‘what-ifs.' Expounding on the Beringia theory of how man first came to America, he points out that that trek began thousands of miles away in the savannas of east Africa. On the pre-occupation of America he expounds on the various stages of man's development, where he lived and how, his tools, clothing and society in general. In addition, he discusses the various animals that existed at these different periods in time that affected the existence of each human stage. Adovasio then moves extensively into the Clovis and pre-Clovis periods, including and explaining the process of carbon-14 dating. Before leaving the Clovis period he gives the various opinions on Pleistocene Overkill as opposed to extinction of certain animals by disease, natural disaster, or climate change.
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Some of the noted archaeologists and paleontologist, and their finds, presented are Louis and Mary Leakey, Charles R. Harrington, Richard MacNeish, Tom Dillehay and Jesse D. Jennings. Important digs and find locations that are presented include Meadowcroft, Cross Creek, Pedra Furada, Monte Verde and Kennewick, Washington. Although this is a scholarly work, it is not without its humorous moments. It is also the story of Adovasio's life and experiences in the field of archaeology.
The review of this Book prepared by Mary Trotter Kion
