Lightfoot, Wake, and Schiff: The Archaeology and Ethnohistory of Fort Ross, California, Volume 1, Introduction (original) (raw)

This volume introduces an ongoing research project focused on the archaeology and ethnohistory of Fort Ross, California, and aims to contextualize it within previous studies while presenting preliminary findings. The research emphasizes the sociopolitical structures of precontact Native American societies and the impacts of European colonialism, particularly through a direct historical approach that integrates various data sources including archaeology and oral traditions. The volume outlines critical areas for future exploration, including socio-political changes post-contact, the interplay between Kashaya culture and European mercantile influences, and an expanded discussion on material culture and social dynamics.