University of Arizona Press Byron Cummings: Dean of Southwest Archaeology

Byron Cummings, known to students and colleagues as The Dean, had a profound influence on the archaeology of Arizona and Utah during its early development. An explorer, archaeologist, anthropologist, teacher, museum director, university administrator, and state parks commissioner, Cummings was involved in many important discoveries in the American Southwest over the first half of the twentieth century and was a pioneer in the education of generations of archaeologists and anthropologists. This book presents the first comprehensive examination of Cummings life, offering readers a greater understanding of his trailblazing work. Todd Bostwick elucidates Cummings? many intellectual and cultural contributions, investigates the controversies in which he was embroiled, and describes his battles to wrest control of Arizona archaeology from eastern institutions that had long dominated Southwest archaeology. Cummings saw the Southwest as an American wilderness where the story of cultural development revealed by the archaeologist and anthropologist was as important as it was in Europe. Bostwick's meticulous account of his life reflects his great reverence for the region and pays tribute to a man whose dedication, mentoring, and friendship have forever sealed his place as The Dean. Review "This book is filled with interesting stories of Cummings' life that will keep you reading and reading till the book is done." -- Dirtbtorhers.org "A much needed, long overdue biography... It should have a broad audience comprising those interested int he history of archaeology and anthropology in the Southwest-- both scholar and general reader alike-- as well as those interested in the early days of university building at Utah and Arizona... An essential reference." --J. Jefferson Reid, co-author of The Archaeology of Ancient Arizona From the Back Cover Byron Cummings, known to students and colleagues as aThe Dean, a had a profound influence on the archaeology of Arizona and Utah during its early development. An explorer, archaeologist, anthropologist, teacher, museum director, university administrator, and state parks commissioner, Cummings was involved in many important discoveries in the American Southwest over the first half of the twentieth century and was a pioneer in the education of generations of archaeologists and anthropologists. This book presents the first comprehensive examination of Cummingsa life, offering readers a greater understanding of his trailblazing work. Todd Bostwick elucidates Cummingsa many intellectual and cultural contributions, investigates the controversies in which he was embroiled, and describes his battles to wrest control of Arizona archaeology from eastern institutions that had long dominated Southwest archaeology. Cummings saw the Southwest as an American wilderness where the story of cultural development revealed by the archaeologist and anthropologist was as important as it was in Europe. Bostwickas meticulous account of his life reflects his great reverence for the region and pays tribute to a man whose dedication, mentoring, and friendship have forever sealed his place as The Dean. About the Author Todd W. Bostwick has been Phoenix City Archaeologist since 1990 and is responsible for the management of archaeological sites located within the city limits. He has written a number of articles on Hohokam rock art in the American Indian Rock Art series, published by the American Rock Art Research Association.