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Show REVIEWS 107 As Lyneis pointed out early in the volume, the proximity of Main Ridge to both the Moapa Valley and the Virgin River could have provided insurance in the event of crop failure-as well as access to the north. With local sources of data exhausted, testing the conclusion that regional trade took precedence over local produce will need to take place in the uplands. In a sense "Main Ridge" is salvage archeology. It provides us with a modern analysis and interpretation of material collected over half a century ago. The Virgin culture area consists of several diverse environmental localities. This volume develops and summarizes the data from one of them-a welcome contribution that allows comparison between the areas. The Virgin Tradition, that umbrella of cultural attributes that integrates the entire area, is also addressed via the mechanisms of local and regional exchange that surely supported and defined that tradition. I hope we can look forward to similar volumes that describe, as well as offer explanation, from each of the Virgin culture area localities. The volume comes supplied with a 3 Vi-inch diskette using Microsoft 4.0 for Macintosh requiring the reader to print some 76 pages of tables that accompany the monograph. I suppose this represents the "cutting edge" in publishing. If it reduces costs it may be worthwhile, but it is awkward to use. In the future, I suggest that the more critical tables be incorporated into the text while those that might ordinarily be in an appendix be placed on the diskette. A choice of software programs might also be offered. Quest for the Origins of the First Americans, by E. James Dixon. University of New Mexico, 1992, Albuquerque. 1993. 154 pages, 44 illustrations. $22.96 (including shipping). Reviewed by: Roy Macpherson Salt Lake-Davis Chapter Utah Statewide Archaeological Society 5669 Laurelwood Street Salt Lake City, UT 84121 The most striking new theory is that the Clovis or Llano culture came to Alaska from the south or the middle part of North America and not from Asia over the Bering Straits, and that the culture was developed in North America. Dixon describes three cultures that were present in Alaska during the 12,000-9,000 B.P. period. The Nenana and Paleoartic traditions came to Alaska from Asia and the Clovis tradition came from central North America. He bases these traditions on the differences in the lithic assembles of these traditions that have been excavated in Alaska and in the associated 14C dates. He gives particular credence to recent findings (last 10 to 15 years). Dixon states that man could have come to the Americas 30,000 to 40,000 years ago by water craft from Asia, adapting and establishing cultures first in a coastal environment and then working inland. He bases the boat theory on the fact that Australia was peopled by watercraft over 40,000 B.P. Dixon accept T. D. Dillenay's chronology data from Mount Verde in Chile and Jim Adovasio chronology data from Meadowcroft Rock shelter in Pennsylvania. By doing this he places man in the new world Prior to 12,000 B.P. Of particularly interest is Dixon's explanation and use of hemoglobin crystallization on the residuals from paleo points for identifying extinct animals. He also writes about accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) in 14C dating paleo artifacts and how it has improved our chronologic capability. The book is written more like a novel than a scientific text. Dixon includes many personal experiences he had while he was developing the data for Quest for the Origins of the First Americans. His experiences while writing and having the book published are also included. The new theories in the book are controversial and probably will not be generally accepted without a great deal of discussion and additional substantiating information. Again, if you are interested in paleoindians you will want to read Quest for the Origins of the First Americans. If you are interested in paleoindians you will want to read Quest for the Origins of the First Americans. Technically the new ideas are not fully substantiated with hard facts, but the concepts are very interesting. |
