This richly illustrated volume, part of Oxbow's American Landscapes series, is a welcome addition to the Caddo archaeological literature. The Caddo area encompasses parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas, although this book focuses primarily on east Texas. Perttula draws not only upon readily available sources but also on gray literature, unpublished field notes, and articles from limited-circulation journals to provide a comprehensive synthesis of Caddo occupation of eastern Texas from approximately AD 850 to 1850. Perttula sprinkles in native Caddo words to refer to specific items, such as tanaha for bison and kisi? for corn, which provides a welcome link between the ancient Caddo and their living descendants.
The book begins with an overview of the east Texas environment and the Caddo homeland, a brief chronology, and a concise introduction to the Caddo archaeological record, including architecture, horticulture, trade, and population densities. The introduction of these topics sets the stage for more detailed discussion later in the book.
Chapter 2 is devoted to a discussion of Caddo ceramics. Perttula focuses on the diversity of decorative styles and vessel forms and provides examples of both finely decorated and utilitarian wares. Illustrations supplement the text to demonstrate the various changes in styles and types throughout the Caddo sequence. This discussion sets the stage for chapters later in the book and makes it relatively easy for the reader to refer back to it when delving into later chapters.
Chapter 3 describes the environment and how it changed in the three main biotic zones of east Texas. Perttula describes the different characteristics of each and goes back into the historical record to discuss the mid-nineteenth-century distribution of trees rather than relying solely on the current landscape. The bulk of the chapter uses pollen and tree ring data to examine environmental change over time and its effects on Caddo groups.
Chapters 4 through 7 consist of detailed discussions of individual time periods that are recognized by Caddo archaeologists. These are broken down into beginnings (AD 850–1200), dispersion (AD 1200–1400), Caddo culture at its precontact peak (AD 1400–1680), and European contact (AD 1680–1838). Each of these chapters follows roughly the same outline. Settlements and community layouts, mound construction, and key nonmound sites are all covered in great detail, and important information on earthen mounds, buildings, burials, pits, and artifact types is presented. Data from both old and recent excavations, geophysical surveys, and specialized analyses add to the discussion.
The book closes with a short chapter that ponders the future of Caddo archaeology and some thoughts about future directions. Perttula rightly criticizes archaeologists working in the region for being parochial and too bound by modern state lines, and he calls for more collaborative efforts by archaeologists to answer large-scale questions. I agree with this critique and this charge for future investigations in Caddo archaeology.
Caddo Landscapes in the East Texas Forests is a significant contribution to the literature. Caddo archaeology is poorly understood by those who do not work in the region (more so than in many other places), and this book takes a giant step toward remedying that problem. Archaeologists working in the Caddo area will benefit from the rich detail mined from hard-to-find sources. Those working elsewhere will benefit from its lavish illustrations and admirable summary of the data.
