A Catalyst for Ideas

In his thirty-four years as president of the School of American Research, Douglas W. Schwartz’s far-reaching vision placed SAR on the intellectual edge of research about humans across the globe. Nowhere is this more evident than in his influence on the field of anthropological archaeology. The twelve essays in this volume celebrate his contributions by looking back at changes in the field and forward to vital questions, methods, and theories yet nascent. Ranging geographically from the North American Southwest-where Schwartz himself conducted extensive research-to Mesopotamia, central America, and the Indian subcontinent and chronologically from early hominid evolution through archaic hunter-gatherers to the classic and historical Maya, the distinguished contributors make the case for Schwartz’s enduring legacy. Addressing major issues in relations of power, writing systems, and directions for future research, this volume is at once mature in its depth and exciting in its boldness.