CONWAY,
Ark. (February 4, 2019) – Dr. J. Brett Hill, associate professor of
anthropology and chair of the Department of Sociology/Anthropology at Hendrix
College, has written a book that considers what the historical perspectives of
Native people in the American Southwest can teach those studying archaeology
and Native heritage today.
In From
Huh
ugam to Hohokam: Heritage and Archaeology in the American Southwest,
Hill examines the history of O’odham heritage extending back to the time of
European conquest. He then traces a parallel history of scientific exploration to
the present, revealing the twists and turns of thought that shape contemporary
understanding of Hohokam “Collapse.” Anthropologists now propose theories of
biological and cultural connections in a braided stream connecting people
through time. This view finds itself in agreement with concepts proposed by
Native authors for generations.
Historically,
Euroamericans considered Native accounts of the past an inferior kind of
knowledge, but anthropology is being revolutionized as scholars integrate Native
insights and premises into scientific thought. Hill contends that such
integration provides a deeper and more accurate sense of the connection between
living and ancient people.
“Examining
centuries of parallel accounts about the ancient people of Southern Arizona
reveals an emerging consensus on the shape of descent and heritage,” Hill said.
“Ancient and present people are in a network of relationships connecting them
to each other and to their places.”
Hill’s
experience in archaeology combines with his liberal arts perspective to produce
a volume suited to readers at all levels in the fields of anthropology, Native
American studies, history, museum studies, and other heritage disciplines. The
book illustrates the complexity of connections among all people and our shared
ancestors.
Published
in January 2019 by Lexington Books, From Huhugam to Hohokam is available in
hardback and as an ebook.
About Hendrix College
A private liberal arts
college in Conway, Arkansas, Hendrix College consistently earns recognition as
one of the country’s leading liberal arts institutions, and is featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That
Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges. Its academic quality and
rigor, innovation, and value have established Hendrix as a fixture in numerous
college guides, lists, and rankings. Founded in 1876, Hendrix has been
affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. To learn more, visit www.hendrix.edu.