In Pursuit Of Gender: Worldwide Archaeological Approaches is an impressive compendium of contributions by distinguished and notable feminist archaeologists dedicated to an examination of the role gender has played in the developing field of archaeology. The contributed essays document how sites and cultures have been interpreted (or reinterpreted) from the perspective of gender, exploding old and fundamentally flawed assumptions about women and the roles they held. In Pursuit Of Gender offers an authoritative, comprehensive, scholarly discussion of gender archaeology in Asia and Africa, as well as in North and South America. Societies represented include those of the hunter-gather; early horticulturalists, incipient and well-developed states; historical communities; and ethnoarchaeological explorations.... In Pursuit Of Gender is a highly recommended and welcome addition to reading lists and reference collections in the academic fields of Archaeology; Women's Studies; and the History of Science.

This first novel by the distinguished archeologist is a wonderfully crafted narrative about roots, identity, ethnicity, humanism, and more. Both the frame story and the neolithic interior one flow back and forth seamlessly and render the themes timeless. The inside look at archeology as a vocation and the vivid descriptions of Korea, now and in neolithic times, and of the archeological sites and artefacts further enhance the value to the reader. Prof. Nelson has a great deal to tell us both about the past and also the road toward a hopeful future that can can embrace at once diversity and universal personhood.

As a beginning (male) college archaeology student, I have not had much exposure to the issue of gender in archaeology yet. When I saw this book in the library, I figured I'd give it a shot over Christmas break. It was not a waste of time. This is a thoughtful and well-written book which points out many obvious (and some not-so-obvious) instances of androcentrism in both the study and practice of archaeology. There are a few places where it seemed that Nelson was about to fall into the trap of gynocentrism which she rightly denounces as being just as bad as androcentrism. However, she usually catches herself in time. I am very glad I decided to read this book, because it has given me a new perspective from which to evaluate the material I will read in the future.