Traces of Fremont: Society & Rock Art in Ancient Utah

Description

Traces of Fremont: Society & Rock Art in Ancient Utah
text by Steven R. Simms, Photographsy By Francois Gohier

Fremont is a culture (ca. 300–1300 A.D.) first defined by archaeologist Noel Morss in 1928 based on characteristics unique to the area. Initially thought to be a simple socio-political system, recent reassessments of the Fremont assume a more complex society. This volume places Fremont rock art studies in this contemporary context. Author Steven Simms offers an innovative model of Fremont society, politics, and worldview using the principles of analogy and current archaeological evidence. Simms takes readers on a trip back in time by describing what a typical Fremont hamlet or residential area might have looked like a thousand years ago, including the inhabitants’ daily activities. François Gohier’s captivating photographs of Fremont art and artifacts offer an engaging complement to Simms’s text, aiding us in our understanding of the lives of these ancient people.

Reviews:
A most welcome contribution….The sound archaeological scholarship that accompanies these beautifully illustrated pages ensures this volume a place on the bookshelves of archaeologists, rock art researchers, as well as the interested public. POLLY SCHAAFSMA, author of Indian Rock Art of the Southwest and Images and Power: Rock Art and Ethics.

Unlocks the treasure chest that is Grand Canyon rock art….and provides historical narratives, sensible classifications of style, well-reasoned comments…and a competent and accurate account of the archaeological context….An instant classic. KEN HEDGES, Emeritus Curator, San Diego Museum of Man and founder of the San Diego Rock Art Symposium.

Fills an important gap in Colorado Plateau archaeological literature with text and illustrations that are significantly enhanced by the authors’ field experience and knowledge of the natural and cultural landscapes. SALLY J. COLE, author of Legacy On Stone: Rock Art of the Colorado Plateau and Four Corners Region