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Hisat'sinom: Ancient Peoples in a Land without Water (A School for Advanced Research Popular Archaeology Book) Paperback – May 16, 2012

by Christian E. Downum (Editor)
4.5 out of 5 stars 9 ratings

The national monuments of Wupatki, Walnut Canyon, and Montezuma's Castle showcase the treasures of the first people who settled and developed farms, towns, and trade routes throughout northern Arizona and beyond. The Hopis call these ancient peoples "Hisat'sinom," and Spanish explorers named their hard, arid homeland the sierra sin agua, mountains without water. Indeed, much of the region receives less annual precipitation than the quintessential desert city of Tucson. In Hisat'sinom: Ancient Peoples in a Land without Water, archaeologists explain how the people of this region flourished despite living in a place with very little water and extremes of heat and cold.

Exploiting the mulching properties of volcanic cinders blasted out of Sunset Crater, the Hisat'sinom grew corn and cotton, made and traded fine cotton cloth and decorated ceramics, and imported exotic goods like turquoise and macaws from hundreds--even thousands--of miles away. From clues as small as the tiny fingerprints left on children's toys, post holes in the floors of old houses, and widely scattered corn fields, archaeologists have pieced together an intriguing portrait of what childhood was like, the importance of weaving cotton cloth, and how farmers managed risk in a harsh environment. At its peak in the late 1100s, Wupatki stood as the region's largest and tallest town, a cultural center for people throughout the surrounding region. It was a gathering place, a trading center, a treasury of exotic goods, a landmark, and a place of sacred ritual and ceremony. Then, after 1200, people moved away and the pueblo sank into ruin.

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  1. Print length
    196 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    School for Advanced Research Press
  4. Publication date
    May 16, 2012
  5. Dimensions
    8.25 x 0.6 x 10.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1934691127
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1934691120
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A superb summary of the deep Native history in the area around Flagstaff, Arizona the archaeological Sinagua region. What a lively history it was: volcanic eruptions; Chaco-meets-Hohokam geopolitics; violence on the frontiers! And, of course, families, clans, and villages that survived and even thrived amid alarms and excursions. This strikingly-illustrated volume is the go-to resource for Sinagua. Leading researchers present their recent discoveries and new syntheses of past work. Insightful chapters by Native scholars remind us that the story continues today at the pueblos of the Hopi Tribe. --Stephen H. Lekson, author of A History of the Ancient Southwest (SAR Press)

For anyone with an interest in southwestern prehistory, the eloquently written Hisatsinom is a must read. It connects the past to the present by offering multiple voices and perspectives that illustrate the varied meanings, interpretations, and values surrounding this archaeologically rich region. --Wolf Gumerman, University Honors Program, Northern Arizona University

The history of the Native Americans who long ago lived around Arizona s Sunset Crater and the Verde Valley have fascinated, and sometimes puzzled, generations of researchers and casual visitors. We are most fortunate now to have an authoritative book that general readers can enjoy, which explains what is currently known about the life and culture of these ancient peoples. --David Grant Noble, author of Ancient Colorado: An Archaeological Perspective and In the Places of the Spirits (SAR Press)

SAR continues its successful Popular Archaeology series with this volume on the archaeology of the Sinagua region near Flagstaff, Arizona. I am unaware of a popular series that so effectively blends academic research with accessible writing in such a compellingly illustrated package. --Wesley Bernardini, Journal of Anthropological Research, vol. 69, no. 1, 2013

The history of the Native Americans who long ago lived around Arizona s Sunset Crater and the Verde Valley have fascinated, and sometimes puzzled, generations of researchers and casual visitors. We are most fortunate now to have an authoritative book that general readers can enjoy, which explains what is currently known about the life and culture of these ancient peoples. --David Grant Noble, author of Ancient Colorado: An Archaeological Perspective and In the Places of the Spirits (SAR Press)

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ School for Advanced Research Press (May 16, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 196 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1934691127
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1934691120
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.15 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.25 x 0.6 x 10.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 9 ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • William D. Robinson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource material on Southwest Ancient People
    Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This is an excellent book. The book is well written and illustrated. This a top quality production with remarkable photos.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Ann M. Kem
    4.0 out of 5 stars In the steps of the Ancient Peoples
    Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Well written and informative. Excellent photos and charts. I'm guessing this is a college level textbook.
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  • John Karon
    5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent review of an interesting archaeological area
    Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2016
    This is a superb review of the Sinagua culture area (so named because there are no permanent streams in this area). The book contains 20 chapters in about 160 pages, with about half of each chapter devoted to illustrations (mostly photos). The emphasis is on the period from about 1000 to 1250 A.D., with one chapter devoted to the previous hunter/gatherer occupation. Individual authors cover all aspects of the culture. The text makes clear that there were three distinct cultures in the area, of which that which is known as the Sinagua is only one. One of the authors is Hopi; there is interesting information on the Hopi interpretation of this area as an extremely important ancestral location; this accounts for the book's title. One of the chapters covers the Sunset Crater eruption and suggests that the usual date (1064) is too early. There is substantial discuss of the effect of the eruption on the people living in the area. Many of the chapters are based on M.S. theses from the University of Northern Arizona; the reference list gives the author and title of the thesis, and suggests that it should be available using interlibrary loan. As a non-professional interested in this area, I found the text extremely well-written and informative. The book contains information that would be hard to find elsewhere.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Anthro Prof
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent overview
    Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2012
    The book is aimed at general readers, with relatively short chapters that cover various aspects of the Sinagua area. The perspectives are varied, including the welcome inclusion of Native American points of view, and it would be difficult to find a better up-to-date synthesis of what is known (and remains to be discovered) about this part of the Southwest. The information is comprehensive, the writing is clear and accessible, and the scholarship is excellent. It is gratifying to see the Sinagua area finally receive the attention it deserves and in such a competent and appealing way.
    5 people found this helpful
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