At first glance, The Archaeology of the Atlantic Northeast propels the reader to a place of Indigeneity with striking cover art by Indigenous artist Melissa Labrador. The image presents a symbolic female form on a landscape against an orange backdrop reminiscent of dawn and dusk. Archaeologists will connect with the seven layers beneath the figure's feet—an image reminiscent of a stratigraphic profile with archaeological symbols denoting features and artifacts. This aligns with the artist's intent to portray ecological features and the memories and materials of her ancestors within the Earth's layers. The cover art gives primacy to an Indigenous view of heritage and reflects the authors’ stance as advocates for more prominent Indigenous voices in Northeast archaeology. However, Betts and Hrynick are explicit that this is an archaeological narrative and not an Indigenous view of the past.
The book offers an overview and new (and renewed) interpretations of the culture history of the Atlantic Northeast. It is geographically broad—encompassing Maine, the Atlantic provinces of Canada, and the Lower North Shore of Quebec—and it contributes to the archaeology of an area where syntheses are lacking. It is a useful resource for diverse students and scholars. Indigenous readers will appreciate the authors’ commitments to Indigenous rights.
The 12 book chapters follow archaeological convention and align with standard archaeological constructs (e.g., Paleoindian, Archaic, Woodland, Protohistoric), with the authors advancing refined taxonomies and nomenclature. Forewords by two of the region's most respected scholars, Donald Soctomah and David Black, reflect the authors’ philosophies regarding inclusive archaeology.
In their introduction, Betts and Hrynick acknowledge their biases as non-Indigenous scholars and present historical processualism as their theoretical framework. These are thoughtful additions that will inspire dialogue in the classroom and beyond.
Chapter 2 provides a broad physiographic overview and environmental history to complement the archaeological content in subsequent chapters. Although not a discussion including local variability, this chapter provides essential environmental context.
Chapter 3 deviates from traditional archaeological narratives by introducing the contemporary Indigenous peoples of the region, their place in archaeological heritage issues, and interpretation of archaeology as Indigenous history. References to contemporary Indigenous groups occur routinely throughout—a refreshing change from cultural historical narratives in which contemporary peoples are discussed only in the context of European contact.
Chapter 4 is a solid overview of the Paleoindian period. It focuses heavily on point types and attributes, and the authors present bold interpretations of cultural continuity based on material comparisons. Some theoretical justification supporting material culture patterns as evidence for cultural connectedness would strengthen the text here and in other chapters.
Betts and Hrynick devote three chapters (5, 6, and 7) to the Archaic period, renewing James Tuck's Maritime Archaic Tradition, a model emphasizing marine adaptation and subduing the importance of wetland and riverine environments in past lifeways, particularly for interior sites. Their discussion of the Late Archaic highlights regional connections related to red ochre mortuary practices and associated material culture. In Chapter 7, they discuss the apparent movement of peoples into the region from the west, the archaeological manifestations of the proposed migration, and the debates surrounding the relationships between incoming and extant peoples. Movement of peoples into the region is a continued theme in Chapter 8, which covers Arctic cultures such as Paleo-Inuit, Dorset, and Inuit, and their occupation of Newfoundland and Labrador beginning at approximately 4200 BP.
Chapters 9, 10, and 11 cover the Woodland and Protohistoric periods. These are some of the strongest in the book. Here, the authors draw on their own shell heap research in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and eastern Maine. They bring past peoples to the forefront with discussions of domestic space, sociospatial organization, language, cosmology, and ethnicity. Equally valuable is the conclusion, which articulates key themes and approaches for future research, such as coastal and interior relationships, typological classifications, and cross-cultural comparisons.
Some may find the focus overly broad and the interpretations of cultural connections too bold, or alternatively, lacking in terms of cultural connections to peoples west of Maine. These are valid issues, but the authors acknowledge and advocate for the need for further research on sociocultural relationships over time and space.
With regard to the book's format, Ingram's illustrations are excellent and exceptionally detailed; likewise, the maps are clear and visually pleasing. The photographs are satisfactory, but some lost clarity in production and reproduction. The book is well written as an archaeological text and an essential reference for anyone interested in Northeast archaeology. I applaud the authors for their commitment to inclusivity and their contribution to the discipline. This book is much-needed synthesis and a springboard for future research on the archaeology of the Northeast.
