The organization and writing style of Ouachita Mountains Archaeology effectively relay concepts, methods, and findings that are meaningful and interesting both to archaeologists and the public. The foreword describes how the research presented in the book is the result of a long-term joint research program by the Arkansas Archeological Survey at the University of Arkansas, the Ouachita National Forest, the Arkansas Archeological Society, and other groups. The level of institutional support and the organizational capacity for public archaeology in Arkansas are remarkable.
Chapter 1, “Time and Place,” starts with a concise introduction to the physiographic setting and how its features attracted human settlement and use over time. The reader is then exposed to the different types of sources used by archaeologists: material culture, written records, and oral histories. Throughout the book, examples of each are expertly woven into the chapters. Next is an overview of the region's history. The chapter concludes by introducing the two study sites discussed in the book: the Jones Mill site, dating from the Middle Archaic through Mississippi periods, and the Dragover site, dating from the Middle Archaic period through the twentieth century. This chapter does an excellent job conveying information to readers unfamiliar with the study area while also keeping them engaged.
Chapter 2, “How Do You Know It's an Artifact?” introduces the reader to basic archaeological concepts (e.g., artifact, feature, site), types of archaeological material culture (stone, bone, shell), and an overview of how archaeological data are collected. For the nonprofessional reader, these concepts are critical for moving from the focus on artifacts as art objects to how we use them to reconstruct the past. The chapter clearly presents several case studies; for example, how lithic microwear analysis is used to determine function.
Chapter 3, “Ouachita Mountains Foodways,” starts with an explanation of how archaeologists reconstruct foodways using palaeobotanical remains, coprolites, and residues. The remainder of the chapter discusses foodways of Native American groups from Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippi periods as evidenced by classes of archaeological data recovered from Jones Mill and Dragover. The comparison of the two site assemblages illustrates to a broad public how each site has a unique history that can only be reconstructed through careful scientific study.
Chapter 4, “Trade and Interaction,” begins by describing the distribution and procurement of novaculite, turns to the reduction of stone tools at precontact novaculite quarry sites, and finally to how the material would have been distributed across the region by transport or trade. The latter part of the chapter examines lithic reduction sequences, providing lessons on how projectile point types are used to establish both site and regional relative chronologies; it then explains how artifact distributions can be used to understand functional variation across space and time at a site.
Chapter 5, “Pottery and Identity,” illustrates how archaeologists can study pottery for clues about social identity in the past. It starts with overviews of spatial and temporal variation in regional pottery traditions, followed by descriptions of pottery technology, vessel forms, and decoration. Importantly, Trubitt explains how pottery attributes are used to track change over time. Most of the remaining chapter examines how pottery differences can track social identity. The chapter concludes with a brief discussion of pottery used in mortuary ceremonies and how the study of such contexts has been (re)shaped by NAGPRA in recent decades. As an aside, it is nice to see that museum collections are considered in this case study because it shows the reader how researchers are actively involved in studying materials in museums for clues about the past.
Chapter 6, “Ouachita Mountains Archaeology: What's Next?” is more of a summary of the book chapters than a prelude to the future of regional archaeology. Overtures are given to public and tribal involvement as important elements in the future of archaeology. Overall, this book does an excellent job of introducing the reader to the regional geography and history, explaining basic archaeological concepts, and then applying those concepts through case studies from the Dragover and Jones Mill sites. Chapters on foodways, trade, and social identity clearly convey information and insights that are relevant to the public.
Ouachita Mountains Archaeology represents several trends the professional community should be aspiring to. First, the site case studies were made possible by a highly developed professional community with strong ties to public, nonprofessional audiences. Trubitt has used this platform to organize a multisite, long-term research program, and the result shines in this book. Second, the inclusion of Native American (here, Caddo) perspectives on and contributions to archaeology is encouraging. We can only hope that books like Ouachita Mountains Archaeology will shed light on the potential role of tribal involvement and inspire other regional archaeology communities to continue moving toward true collaborations with Tribal Nations.
