While the state of California remains one of the most striking and varied landscapes in the world, it has experienced monumental changes since European settlers first set foot there. The past two centuries have witnessed an ongoing struggle between environment and economy, nature and humanity that has left an indelible mark on the region. Green Versus Gold provides a compelling look at California's environmental history from its Native American past to conflicts and movements of recent decades. Acclaimed environmental historian Carolyn Merchant has brought together a vast storehouse of primary sources and interpretive essays to create a comprehensive picture of the history of ecological and human interactions in one of the nation's most diverse and resource-rich states. For each chapter, Merchant has selected original documents that give readers an eyewitness account of specific environments and periods, along with essays from leading historians, geographers, scientists, and other experts that provide context and analysis for the documents. In addition, she presents a list of further readings of both primary and secondary sources. Among other topics, chapters examine: California's natural environment and Native American lands the Spanish and Russian frontiers environmental impacts of the gold rush the transformation of forests and rangelands agriculture and irrigation cities and urban issues the rise of environmental science and contemporary environmental movement. Merchant's informed and well-chosen selections present a unique view of decades of environmental change and controversy. Historians, educators, environmentalists, writers, students, scientists, policy makers, and others will find the book an enlightening and important contribution to the debate over our nation's environmental history.

Examines the critical implications of cultural identity from a variety of perspectives. Questions the nature and limits of archaeological knowledge of the past and the relationship of material culture to cultural identity.

A major global climate event called the Younger Dryas dramatically affected local environments and human populations at the end of the Pleistocene. This volume is the first book in fifteen years to comprehensively address key questions regarding the extent of this event and how hunter-gatherer populations adapted behaviorally and technologically in the face of major climatic change. An integrated set of theoretical articles and important case studies, written by well-known archaeologists, provide an excellent reference for researchers studying the end of the Pleistocene, as well as those studying hunter-gatherers and their response to climate change.

A revised edition of a classic guide to woodworking methods that have been refined and developed over thousands of years. It teaches and preserves techniques and historical information that were lost when modern woodworking technology, dedicated to mass production, displaced the craftsman. Every woodworking operationâ?¬â? chopping, splitting, using the workbench, sawing, hewing, boring, chiseling, shaping, planing, turningâ?¬â? is described in detail. There is also information on the role of various tools in the evolution of wood products, the types and characteristics of wood, the preparation and maintenance of tools, collective tools of antique value, and instruction on the subtleties of the craft, from rabbeting to molding. The professional woodworker, the hobbyist, the collector, the antiques dealer, and the craft enthusiast will discover valuable information in this definitive work. It is reference, guide, and history all in one volume.This book contains over 200 line drawings by the author to illustrate age-old, yet fascinating, ways of working with wood. With chapters that describe the ways to fell a tree, methods for splitting wood, and more, along with a complete appendix and index, this is a great reference for anyone interested in the ways of wood working.