Guide to Palaeolithic Artifacts and Features of the Americas

Guide to the Palaeolithic Artifacts and Features of the Americas is the go-to reference for stone, bone, antler, ivory, and wooden artifacts of the palaeolithic era in the Americas. Written by Ricard Michael Gramly, an expert in the field, this book canvases a century of archaeological literature and scholarship and includes over 150 images to clearly and efficiently classify the artifacts discussed. Each artifact includes all the terms and synonyms by which it is classified, a visual depiction of the artifact, and the time period in which the artifact occurred in. Combining both Old and New World technologies, typologies and practices, this book is a must have for professional and amateur archaeologists, collectors of palaeolithic artifacts, and the casual reader interested in the history of the Americas.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements Preface Introduction Descriptions and Illustrations of Artifacts and Features (alphabetically arranged) References Cited Index Locations of Specimens Figured in This Study

About the Author :
Richard Michael Gramly (FRAI) has conducted fieldwork in North America (two Canadian Provinces and 28 States), South America (Peru and Colombia), and the Old World (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia). These investigations, which have been performed since 1962, have resulted in several hundred publications in scientific journals of Kenya, Tanzania, France, England, and the United States. In addition, Dr. Gramly has contributed chapters to books about prehistory and been the sole author of many others. Trained as a geo-chemist at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, but receiving his PhD in anthropology from Harvard University, he has taught at Canisius College, SUNY Stony Brook, Tufts University, and Harvard University, and has worked for the New York State Museum, the National Museum of Kenya, the Maine State Museum, and the Buffalo Museum of Science in various capacities.

Review :
Over 20 years ago I acquired a copy of Dr. Gramly’s first work describing and illustrating the artifacts of paleo man in North America. Since that time, I have utilized that work countless times as a reference when doing research for articles or editing the work of others. The concise definitions and illustrations allowed me to quickly understand the artifacts of this period and some of these artifacts continue in use throughout the prehistory of the Americas. To now have an updated version that is enlarged and enhanced is an absolute treasure that I am sure will become my go-to reference for years to come. This work will be a valuable resource to the academic researcher, the casual collector, or anyone interested in the prehistory of man in North America. R.M. Gramly once again treads into scarce and unknown territory where few others have gone before, taking the boundaries of New World Paleolithic discoveries to new dimensions. With this updated and comprehensive work he leads readers to a new awakening and understanding of the possibilities of Paleolithic tool forms in the New World. In this beautifully illustrated book, Richard Gramly moves beyond the historical archaeological focus on fluted stone tools in the Americas, bringing the diversity of stone, bone, antler, and wood tools to light. This book is a valuable addition to the archaeological record and a must read for seasoned and upcoming archaeologists. This well illustrated compendium Guide to Palaeolithic Artifacts and Features of the Americas is a welcomed addition to the author’s previous volumes on the Palaeo-American artifacts of North America. Trained as an Old World prehistorian and a life long contributor of Palaeo-American studies, Gramly is uniquely suited to compile this volume. I enthusiastically welcome Gramly's ever-comprehensive Guide for many, and especially, for two reasons. First, because it underscores the obvious but little-appreciated fact that the first archaeological evidence of humans in the New World was left by immigrants who, in their homelands, would be regarded as Upper Paleolithic peoples. Second, because it focuses our attention non-lithic technologies which, although rarely recovered, are essential to fleshing out the story of the first Americans.