In Search of the Old Ones

Exploring the Anasazi World of the Southwest

By: David Roberts

Narrated by: Kaipo Schwab

An exuberant, hands-on fly-on-the-wall account that combines the thrill of canyoneering and rock climbing with the intellectual sleuthing of archaeology to explore the Anasazi.

David Roberts describes the culture of the Anasazi - the name means "enemy ancestors" in Navajo - who once inhabited the Colorado Plateau and whose modern descendants are the Hopi Indians of Arizona. Archaeologists, Roberts writes, have been puzzling over the Anasazi for more than a century, trying to determine the environmental and cultural stresses that caused their society to collapse 700 years ago. He guides us through controversies in the historical record, among them the haunting question of whether the Anasazi committed acts of cannibalism.

Roberts's book is full of up-to-date thinking on the culture of the ancient people who lived in the harsh desert country of the Southwest.

©1996 David Roberts (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"[Roberts's] awe at the region's beauty, with its sheer cliffs, canyons and mesas, and at the testaments to an unknown culture will be contagious for readers." ( Publishers Weekly)

Excellent, compelling history of Anazazi

Must read for anyone interested in SW Indian history. Fabulous book. Exciting to read. Author makes it feel like you are there with him hiking hidden canyons in the 4-Corners region. Poor narrator who mis-pronounced all unfamiliar words, slaughtering words like canyon, shards (as in pot shards), burial, contoversy, Mesa (as in Mesa Verde), Chaco.

Midwest Native American History

Great read, and full of some interesting information! Enjoyed reading more about some of the ruins and those who spent time excavating in the areas.

interesting story, gave me some theoretical stuff to think about the nature of archaeology

the story was interesting, the author brings up some interesting thworeticals about the nature of archaeology. I dont think I would like the author very much if we met in real life but still food for thought. the reader mispronounced provenance

The outdoor museum…

The prose may be dry in places, (pun unintended) but the authors heart seems to be in the Colorado canyon country, otherwise known as Abbey’s Land. I enjoyed the book.

Gr8 4 history of Archaeology & ancestral puebloans

the first few hours are a bit tough to get through as he explains the history of archaeology in the southwest and of ancestral puebloan sites. But it ties together very nicely as the rest of the book focuses on HIS experiences in the field. very thoughtful, fun listen. well worth the time 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻