A landmark portrayal of pioneering women in science, reissued on its 25th anniversary

Praise for the first edition:
“Highly recommended for any archaeologist interested in the history of the discipline.”—
Choice
“An
important addition to the history of southeastern archaeology, bringing
to light the often undervalued or forgotten contributions of the many
women who helped to make archaeology what it is today.”—
Bulletin of the History of Archaeology
“This
is a needed history, providing details both mundane and critical,
personal and professional, feminist and archaeological.”—
Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences
“Demonstrat[es]
that each woman, regardless of how, when, or why she came to
Southeastern archaeology, has made significant contributions to the
field, clearing the path for women today to pursue successful careers in
archaeology.”—
North American Archaeologist
“The
regional focus lends an intimate and immediate quality to this series
of biographical-historical narratives. . . . [It is] heartening to know
that some among us have thought to capture these women’s stories for
others to tell in the future and to provide a basis for better
understanding how our roles and histories influence our work as
archaeologists.”—
Journal of Anthropological Research
“These
fascinating brief portraits, variously based on documents, interviews,
or autobiographical statements, reveal much of the changing
circumstances in the context of which women’s work must be understood.”—
National Women’s Studies Association Journal
“A readable book that provides a lot of interesting material on the history of Southeastern archaeology.”—
Journal of Alabama Archaeology
“A
delight to read, often humorous, sometimes sobering. It has much to
offer readers, ranging from the history of archaeology and the role of
the WPA in southeastern archaeology, to an intimate view of careers of
influential women in science, to discussions of the study of gender in
history and archaeology. It is a volume to be read and shared.”—
Arkansas Historical Quarterly
“An easily read, thought-provoking book.”—
St. Augustine Archaeological Association Quarterly Book Review
Updated
with a new preface on the 25th anniversary of its first publication,
this volume documents the lives and work of pioneering women
archaeologists in the southeastern United States from the 1920s through
the 1960s. Some of these women were working at the time of the book’s
first publication in 1999, and they either wrote their own stories or
were interviewed. Others were no longer living; their biographies are
gleaned from archival research. Rich with humor, tragedy, and important
information for the history of archaeology in the South and beyond, as
well as anthropology in general, this book includes the story of African
American women excavators on WPA crews during the Great Depression;
tales of innovative lab work, adventurous fieldwork, and public
archaeology; and provocative discussions of women in archaeology and of
gender in the archaeological record.