HISTORY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Daniel S. Meatte

(Taken from Prehistory of the Western Snake River Basin (1990) pp.21-38)

INTRODUCTION

This review describes the events and ideas that have shaped the study of archaeology in the Western Snake River Basin. The history of archaeological inquiry in the study area can be separated into three time periods based on trends in the published literature. These time periods are best understood as reflecting the concerns of archaeologists working in the region and are set within the broader context of evolving trends in American archaeology. These periods are: Discovery and Description 1889-1957, Classification and Chronology 1957-1969, and Cultural Resource Management: 1969-Present.