Gathering Hopewell Society, Ritual and Ritual Interaction

From the Reviews

"Seldom does a small group of scholars and their research have the opportunity to remake an entire field of inquiry.  Christopher Carr, Troy Case, and their colleagues and students have done so. 
Gathering Hopewell
provides new and strong foundations for a truly social and cultural archaeology and offers solid direction for future work on the spectacular remains of prehistoric "Hopewell" groups of Eastern North America. This work offers an unmatched conjunction of social and cultural theory, great scholarly imagination, and unprecedented empirical evidence." (Christopher Peebles, Professor of Anthropology, Indiana University)

"
Gathering Hopewell
is, by any measure, an outstanding contribution to knowledge about one of the most important, but least understood, cultural developments in eastern North America.  This authoritative, comprehensive, and provocative book will no doubt prove to be a much-welcomed watershed in Hopewell-related research." (George Milner, Professor of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University)

"
Gathering Hopewell
is remarkable in its humanizing of Hopewellian archaeological records and synthesis of Hopewellian life.  It represents a major advance in archaeological mortuary theory and analysis and their potential for understanding past societies." (Robet Mainfort, Professor of Anthropology, Arkansas Archaeological Survey)

"I applaud the contributors for producing an authoritative, clearly written, creatively edited, carefully researched, and logically argued work that will direct and stimulate debate among Hopewellian archaeologists specifically, and anthropological archaeologists generally.  Few archaeologists are positioned to produce such a synthetic exposition; this work establishes Carr as the preeminent dean of Hopwellian studies.  That the book speaks with a single voice is testimony to his efforts to fulfill a goal that all editors strive for, yet fewachieve.  This well edited and tightly integrated collection of papers written in jargon-free prose makes broad contributions to archaeological theory and method as well as our understanding of the history and culture of ancient America.  It will undoubtedly be recognized as a tour de force that serious Hopewellian scholars will confront and consult for years to come."  (Southeastern Archaeology 25:1, Summer 2006)






"This volume is readily accessible, and there is no reason why it should not be on the shelf, and its general message in the heads, of anybody serious about North American prehistory. ...
Gathering Hopewell
is truly a monumental achievement, reflecting the vision and hard work of a great many scholars.  The editors and contributors are a part of something special here, and deserve our thanks for showing us what archaeology can accomplish in bringing Hopewell to life. ... The writing is scholarly yet accessible, and while theoretically robust and as warranted appropriately scientific, it is at the same time infused with a broad humanistic perspective, providing many lessons and insights illustrating how mondern archaeology should be conducted."  (American Antiquity, 71:3,  2006)






"This book is a treasure trove of raw data and inspired interpretation.  It is overflowing with intensive studies of artefact, settlement, burial, and earthwork types, and the rich descriptions of these data convey the quality of the artefacts in unique ways.  The meshing of ethnographic and archaeological data is unprecedented.  Overall, this book will have a profound effect on the nature and direction of Hopewellian studies for years to come."  (Antiquity 80:308, June 2006)

"This book is a monumental work from a seasoned scholar that should be a model for other archaeological studies. Despite containing over 700 pages of text and 21 contributors, it is still highly accessibly and coherent. It is also theoretically consistentand even though some readers may not agree with Carr’s theory... one cannot help being impressed."

(Andrew Martin, Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 18:3)