Presents an examination of the geographic, cultural, and human landscape of the Americas before the arrival of Columbus in 1492, and includes information from historical and archaeological perspectives that offers a new view of pre-Columbian America.

Holmberg's mistake --; View from above --; 1: Numbers from nowhere? --; Why Billington survived --; In the land of four quarters --; Frequently asked questions --; 2: Very old bones --; Pleistocene wars --; Cotton (or anchovies) and maize (tales of two civilizations, part I) --; Writing, wheels, and bucket brigades (tales of two civilizations, part II) --; 3: Landscape with figures --; Made in America --; Amazonia --; The artificial wilderness --; The great law of peace.