David has done his part to virtually kick start Alabama's professional archaeologists into doing more than just public archaeology with excavations and volunteers on his property. He took it upon himself to gather a wealth of information available concerning Alabama's prehistory and has written a wonderful reference that is and will continue to be easily accessible, easily understood and visually engaging. -Teresa Paglione

Excellent work! Amazing photos & drawings...attention to every detail. Abundant amount of information in one book!

This recent book is a welcome addition to the study of archaeology and the collecting hobby of not only Alabama, but the Southeast as a whole. Not since "Sun Circles and Human Hands" has such an exhaustive treatise on the rich archaeology of the area been published. It begins with an overview of the discipline of archaeology. This chapter serves as an appropriate bridge between the field of archaeology and the collecting hobby. A thorough overview of "arrowheadology" describes the anatomy of a projectile point and all the various forms. A table of most Alabama point types is included that breaks down the point types for each cultural period. The book has a unique breakdown of the main lithic types found in Alabama along with maps showing the dispersion of each chert type across the state. Pictures of each chert type are shown. One of the most informative aspects of the book is a thorough examination of pottery including descriptions of vessel forms and structures. This unique and informative section includes a "ceramic timeline" of all pottery types found in the state. The next section includes a thorough description of each cultural period along with general maps showing locations of major cultural sites. There are a few inconsistencies for timeframes of the cultural periods as well as a few typographical errors but overall the sections are easy to follow and well done. Within each cultural section is a great breakdown of each point type including the origin of the point name and a dispersion map as well as pictures of examples. The point pictures are not as exhaustive as can be found in popular point guides. No pricing information is included in the book. The pictures also tend to be somewhat focused on examples from the southern part of the state. Another aspect that some collectors may find odd is that some popular point types that collectors identify as a separate type such as Lost Lake and Pine Tree are lumped into the "Kirk" type. This is a minor issue attributable to the archaeological bent of the book. One of the most useful and unique aspects of the book is the listing within each cultural period of the pottery types that were made during that period. An exhaustive list of each type along with a dispersion map and vivid shard pictures is included and, where available, pictures of intact vessels. This aspect alone is worth the price of the book. The book closes with a description of some of the major popular archaeological sites and several Alabama museums including some sites with which many readers may not be familiar such as the newer Dust Cave site. Mr. Johnson's 448-page book obviously took many years of research and work and he is to be commended for his effort and especially for donating all proceeds to the Alabama Archaeological Society. The book is well worth the price and is a great read for both professional and amateur alike. It is available on Amazon and several museums around the state.