Bison and People on the North American Great Plains: A Deep Environmental History
2017; Oxford University Press; Volume: 104; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1093/jahist/jax326
ISSN1945-2314
Autores Tópico(s)Archaeology and Natural History
ResumoSweeping in temporal, spatial, and conceptual scope, Bison and People on the North American Great Plains is a remarkable interdisciplinary assemblage of scholars tackling “deep time” across the vast and ever-changing Great Plains. This ambitious project, skillfully edited by Geoff Cunfer and Bill Waiser (with one of the best overviews of bison/Plains history I have ever read), has managed to bring together almost all of the seminal Plains scholars who have shaped the field over the last two decades. The resulting volume is a surprising page-turner that will engage humanists, ecologists, and policy makers interested in the past and future environment of the Great Plains. The numerous beautiful, high-quality color images alone will give this book a long shelf life. Situated within the Connecting the Greater West series published by Texas A&M University Press, this collection focuses exclusively on the relationship between humans and the most iconic symbol of the West: North American bison. The editors seek to disrupt the enduring myths and misconceptions about the demise of this transnational herbivore through a creative gathering of sections revolving around alternating “views.” Such vantage points give scientists such as Alwynne B. Beaudoin the opportunity to posit a “bison's view,” revealing a deeper, longer ecological history. At the same time, the giants of the field—including Ted Binnema, Elliott West, and George Colpitts—shed new light on the views of fur traders, horsemen, and métis hunters.
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