New York Times lists professor’s book
The New York Times Review of Books honored Utah State anthropology professor Steven Simms’s book “Traces of Fremont” in its Nov. 11 edition.
“It’s awesome! It’s an honor for all of us involved,” said Francois Gohier, the book’s photographer.
“Traces of Fremont” focuses on the society and rock art of Native Americans, now known as the Fremont, who lived in ancient Utah. Simms said he wanted to steer people away from interpreting the rock art. He said it is difficult to know exactly what the artist meant when we are so removed from the time period.
“Common sense interpretations tell us more about ourselves than about the people. It’s hard not to impose our modern ideas on (the rock art),” Simms said.
Simms said his fascination with the Fremont stems from their complex hierarchical society. He said he wanted his audience to imagine the Fremont as real people and to think about rock art through a “long-term lens.”
Simms agreed to write the book in fall 2008, but Gohier has been photographing the area since 1992 and decided to create the book approximately 10 years ago, Gohier said.
“This kind of project requires lots of time and, if I may say, persistence. One has to have an intellectual and emotional interest in the subject to keep going through the years,” Gohier said.
Gohier and Simms were introduced by Rebecca Rauch, acquisitions editor for anthropology and archaeology at the University of Utah Press.
“My work includes the creation of books, like putting photographers and authors together to make a better piece than either of them would do by themselves,” Rauch said.
Rauch first contacted Simms, who she has known since the 1970s, to ask him to recommend an archaeologist to write the text for the book. After some thought, Simms volunteered himself. Rauch said he was her preferred author and she was glad he accepted the job.
The bulk of Simms’ work has been in technical science writing for academic journals. He said he wanted to write for a non-technical press in a style more accessible to the general public.
“How is it that archaeologists lead such interesting lives but write such boring work?” Simms said.
Simms recently spent time in Western Argentina, which is similar to the Great Basin region. The two areas display a great deal of parallel cultural evolution, Simms said.
Gohier and Simms have been touring the state presenting the book since its publication, Simms said. They have presented a CD of Gohier’s photographs set to Native-American flute music, along with live readings from the book by Simms.
Simms said the lectures were attended by many interesting people, including history professors, graduate students, authors and various Utah personalities. He said the discussion at the presentations was “immensely rewarding.”
Holly Andrews, former USU anthropology student and current staff assistant in the anthropology department, attended one of these lectures and said, “The book was gorgeous. The photographs are so vibrant and Dr. Simms’s text complements them very well.”
She said she was excited one of USU’s professors was featured in the New York Times and was recognized on a national level. She said the book is meant for everyone and can educate a person who is not familiar with archaeology.
Simms said he is always writing and is currently working on technical and research articles. However, he says he is interested in writing more books directed at the general public.
Rauch said Simms is one of the top archaeologists in the Great Basin region and they frequently communicate about potential projects.
“My desire is to be a working scientist who writes for an inquisitive and educated public who don’t necessarily read just to stroke their existing beliefs,” Simms said.
– rouchelle.brockman@aggiemail.usu.edu