An Introduction to Cultural Ecology

Perfect as a primary text, and equally as versatile as supplemental material for undergraduate and graduate classes, An Introduction to Cultural Ecology is geared towards students and instructors involved in cultural ecology, ecological anthropology or human ecology. While covering basic concepts for beginners, this book also provides a thorough and sophisticated discussion of cultural ecology's history and theory. The text further aids in the understanding of the impact that human activities have on the environment through use of case studies and covers topics ranging from salmon ceremonies among Northwest Coast Indians to Maya agriculture today and the sacred groves in southern. It also emphasises contemporary problems in the environment and the field of cultural ecology today.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: Introduction; Chapter 2: Fundamentals of Ecology; Chapter 3: Human Biological Ecology; Chapter 4: Cultural Ecology; Chapter 5: Hunting and Gathering; Chapter 6: The Origins of Food Production; Chapter 7: Horticulture; Chapter 8: Pastoralism; Chapter 9: Intensive Agriculture; Chapter 10: Current Issues and Problems; References, Glossary, Index.

About the Author :
Mark Q. Sutton is Professor of Anthropology at the California State University, Bakersfield. He is also Director of the Center for Archaeological Research, Director of the Museum of Anthropology, and the Editor of the Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology. E.N. Anderson is a Professor of Anthropology at the University of California, Riverside.

Review :
"This badly needed book does a good job updating what we know about the ecological relationships between people and their habitats. The first four chapters provide a broad, worldwide perspective on the theory and history of cultural ecology, placing the specialty in a wider anthropological context. The next five chapters cover the four major human subsistence types (hunting and gathering, horticulture, pastoralism, and intensive agriculture) and discuss at length the important consequences of domesticating plants and animals. The four "subsistence type" chapters are richly illustrated by a number of case studies and contain well-cited discussions of relevant anthropological issues. The concluding chapter relates the cross-cultural study of cultural ecology to modern environmental issues and problems of interest to all people today. This book is well organized and the writing clear and concise. The references cited section is a valuable research tool, and the glossary is useful for defining the more technical terms used in the field. Highly recommended. Serious undergraduate readers as well as more advanced professionals." --Choice Reviews