The Archaeology of Ethnogenesis - by Barbara L Voss (Paperback)

About the Book

This pioneering work of historical archaeology sheds light on the genesis of the Californios, a community of military settlers who forged a new identity on the northwest edge of Spanish North America. The revised edition includes a new preface from the author, looking at the development of ethnogenesis theory since the first edition of this book.

Book Synopsis

"Compelling new evidence, careful documentation, and an artfully woven narrative make The Archaeology of Ethnogenesis a path-breaking book for sociocultural scholars as well as for general readers interested in the politics of identity, ethnicity, gender, and the colonial and U.S. Western history."--Transforming Anthropology

"Voss's lucid explanations of method and theory make the book accessible to a broad range of audiences, from upper-level undergraduate and graduate students to professionals and lay audiences. . . . Its interdisciplinarity, indeed, may help to sell archaeology to audiences who do not typically consider archaeological evidence as an option for identity studies."--Current Anthropology

"The book reminds historians that other disciplines can offer fruitful methodological forays into well-trodden areas of study."--Journal of American History

"Those scholars studying various aspects of the Hispanic worldwide empire would be well advised to peruse Voss's work."--Historical Archaeology

"[W]ell written, theoretically sophisticated, and unburdened by abstract concepts or hyper-qualified verbiage."--H-Net Reviews

"[E]ngaging. Overall, the text belongs in the library of every student of Spanish and Mexican Alta California. . . . The Archaeology of Ethnogenesis will become an anthropological standard."--Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology

"[A] must-read for all interested not only in colonial California, but for all historical archaeologists and to any archaeologist interested in the examination of identities."--Cambridge Archaeological Journal
"Shows how individuals negotiate ethnic identity through everyday objects and actions."--SMRC Revista
In this interdisciplinary study, Barbara Voss examines religious, environmental, cultural, and political differences at the Presidio of San Francisco, California, to reveal the development of social identities within the colony. Voss reconciles material culture with historical records, challenging widely held beliefs about ethnicity.

Review Quotes

"A must-read for all interested not only in colonial California, but for all historical archaeologists and to any archaeologist interested in the examination of identities."--Sarah K. Croucher"Cambridge Archaeological Journal" (01/01/2009)

"Exemplary . . . The Archaeology of Ethnogenesis is a required read for scholars of European imperialism, colonization, race, class, and gender. It offers graduate students an inspirational model study."--Lu Ann De Cunzo"American Anthropologist" (12/01/2009)

"Reminds historians that other disciplines can offer fruitful methodological forays into well-trodden areas of study."--"The Journal of American History"

About the Author

Barbara L. Voss is associate professor of anthropology at Stanford University and coeditor of The Archaeology of Colonialism and Archaeologies of Sexuality.