About BC Books Online
BC Books Online was created for anyone interested in BC-published books, and with librarians especially in mind. We'd like to make it easy for library staff to learn about books from BC publishers - both new releases and backlist titles - so you can inform your patrons and keep your collections up to date.
Our site features print books and ebooks - both new releases and backlist titles - all of which are available to order through regular trade channels. Browse our subject categories to find books of interest or create and export lists by category to cross-reference with your library's current collection.
A quick tip: When reviewing the "Browse by Category" listings, please note that these are based on standardized BISAC Subject Codes supplied by the books' publishers. You will find additional selections, grouped by theme or region, in our "BC Reading Lists."
Description
Ancient People of the Arctic traces the lives of the Palaeo-Eskimos, the bold first explorers of the Arctic. Four thousand years ago, these people entered the far northern extremes of the North American continent, carving a living out of their bleak new homeland. From the hints they left behind, accessible only through the fragmented archaeological record, Robert McGhee ingeniously reconstructs a picture of this life at the margins. He discusses how the Palaeo-Eskimos spread across the entire Arctic, explains how they dealt with sharp climate changes that drastically altered their environment, offers glimpses into their spiritual practices and world view, and speculates about their eventual demise.
Contributor Notes
Robert McGhee is an archaeologist who has conducted thirty years of research on the ancient history of Arctic peoples. He is the author of numerous publications, among them Ancient Canada (1989) and Canada Rediscovered (1991). He is currently a curator of archaeology at the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
Editorial Reviews
Ancient People of the Arctic is the most comprehensive book on the prehistory of the Paleo-Eskimos to date. It’s food for thought that could give us the sense of history and place we so badly need.
— Vancouver Sun
Reconstructing their migration and their daily lives from perfectly preserved and house remains and artifacts, McGhee paints a fascinating portrait, enhancing it with dozens of maps, drawings, and photographs of Paleo-Eskimo sites, tools, and decorative art.
— Coast Independent
A vibrant celebration of the artistic and cultural vision of the early peoples.
— Canadian Geographic
