Extending the Rafters

<p>To the Iroquois extending the rafters meant adding onto the longhouse both in the literal sense of making room for new families and in the figurative sense of adding adopted individuals or tribes to the League of Five Nations. Similarly this book extends Iroquois studies. The distinguished contributors represent such diverse areas of anthropology as ethnology ethnohistory and archaeology. They address issues that cut across disciplinary lines making this book a significant state-of-the-art survey. The topics explored revolve around the influence contributions field work and teachings of anthropologist William N. Fenton a founder of the discipline of ethnohistory. The essays run the gamut from prehistory to contemporary political issues from individuals to women and nations and from language to ritual.</p>