Archaeologists seldom study ancient art, even though art is fundamental to the human experience. The Archaeology of Art in the American Southwest argues that archaeologists should study ancient artifacts as artwork, as applying the term "art" to the past raises new questions about artists, audiences, and the works of art themselves. Munson proposes that studies of ancient artwork be based on standard archaeological approaches to material culture, framed by theoretical insights of disciplines such as art history, visual studies, and psychology. Using examples drawn from the American Southwest, The Archaeology of Art in the American Southwest discusses artistic practice in ancestral Pueblo and Mimbres ceramics and the implications of context and accessibility for the audiences of painted murals and rock art. Studies of Hohokam figurines and rock art illustrate methods for studying ancient images, while the aesthetics of ancient art are suggested by work on ceramics and kivas from Chaco Canyon. The Archaeology of Art in the American Southwest, by Dr. Marit Munson, was published in early 2011.

Linda S. Cordell, School for Advanced Research

"In this thoughtful and concise treatment, Marit Munson argues persuasively that archaeologists have much to learn by expanding their vision to include the art behind the artifacts considering the artists, their audiences, the imagery, and even their aesthetics, because in doing so we develop new tools to better understand the past."

Michelle Hegmon, Arizona State University

"Anthropological archaeologists have long faced a contradiction: We appreciate the beauty of the objects we study, but, lacking insights into aesthetics and art, we dryly reduce those objects to artifacts and data. In this new book, Marit Munson provides us with an enlightening new perspective for understanding art -- the artists, the audiences, the images, and the aesthetics -- in the archaeology of the ancient Southwest. For readers interested in art in general, the book showcases insights gained from the Southwestern past. And for those specially interested in the Southwest, Munson opens eyes and minds to new ways of seeing."

This 2010 book by Dr. Chip Colwell-Chanthaphonh is about the tangled relationship between Native peoples and archaeologists in the American Southwest. Even as this relationship has become increasingly significant for both "real world" archaeological practice and studies in the history of anthropology, no other single book has synthetically examined how Native Americans have shaped archaeological practice in the Southwest -- and, how archaeological practice has shaped Native American communities. From oral traditions to repatriations to disputes over sacred sites, the next generation of archaeologists (as much as the current generation) needs to grapple with the complex social and political history of the Southwest's Indigenous communities, the values and interests those communities have in their own cultural legacies, and how archaeological science has impacted and continues to impact Indian country.

Current Anthropology

"Colwell-Chanthaphonh has provided an alternative way of presenting the "histories" of the American Southwest... He has created neither an introductory volume on Southwestern archaeology nor an introductory volume on Native Americans of the Southwest; what he has created, instead, is an introductory volume that all archaeologists— Southwestern and non-Southwestern practitioners alike—should read and take note of."

Choice Review

"Coverage of Native participation in and resistance to early excavations, the emergence of tribal-run heritage programs, and recent collaborative efforts between indigenous people and mainstream archaeologists is particularly strong. The volume, written for nonspecialists, will also be a great addition to introductory courses in southwestern and North American archaeology. Summing Up: Highly recommended."

Journal of Anthropological Research

"The general reader and archaeology student will find this book enjoyable and enlightening....Several of the sidebars present specific topics that would make good class discussions at either the undergraduate or graduate level. Given the history provides and the discussions it will provoke, this book should be required reading in all university survey courses on Southwest archaeology."

Matthew Liebmann, Harvard University

"In this book, Chip Colwell-Chanthaphonh succeeds admirably in writing Native Americans back into the history of Southwestern archaeology. Living Histories is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the anthropology, archaeology, and history of the Southwest, and should be read alongside any of the standard textbooks on these topics. It is an indispensable contribution to the history of Southwestern archaeology."

Wesley Bernardini, University of Redlands

"An eloquent, timely, and provocative addition to the literature. Colwell-Chanthaphonh charts a new path for Southwestern Archaeology, pointing the way to sustainable practices that value not just sites but people, relationships, and the 'living histories' that we all inhabit."