The tragic saga of the Donner Party has inspired both legend and scholarship ever since the survivors were rescued from the High Sierra snows in the spring of 1847. When archaeologist Donald L. Hardesty and four colleagues - a historian and three other archaeologists - turned their collective attention to the ordeal of the Donner Party, the result was an original and sometimes surprising new study of this pioneer group and their place in the history of overland migration. Now available for the first time in paperback, ""The Archaeology of the Donner Party"" combines the fruits of meticulous investigation of the Sierra Nevada sites with scientific analysis of artifacts discovered there and interpretation of the documents of the party and the memoirs of survivors. Through this interdisciplinary approach, Hardesty and his colleagues offer new insight into the ordeal of these ill-fated emigrants and demonstrate the vital role that archaeology can play in illuminating and expanding our understanding of historical events.

About the Author
Donald L. Hardesty is Mamie Kleberg Professor of Historic Preservation and Anthropology at the University of Nevada, Reno, and author or editor of six other books.

Reviews
"The Archaeology of the Donner Party is a significant book, not simply because it provides new insights regarding a well-covered episode of western history, but also because it demonstrates how historians and archaeologists can work together to arrive at conclusions of benefit to both disciplines. The result is good history and good archaeology." - Western Historical Quarterly"



Book Information
ISBN 9780874176612
Author University of Nevada Press
Format Paperback
Imprint University of Nevada Press
Publisher University of Nevada Press
Weight(grams) 248g
Dimensions(mm) 228mm * 155mm * 10mm