This volume assembles a group of documents that fill an important gap in the history of North American archaeology. The writings of John D. Clifford and his friend, C. S. Rafinesque, eluded widespread attention during their initial appearance in the early 1800s before falling into complete obscurity. Nevertheless, they proved to be a critical influence on much of the archaeological work that did gather notice in that era and afterward.
As Charles Boewe observes in his introduction, European speculation about the indigenous peoples of the New World began with its discovery, but it was the...