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From Booklist

February 15, 2023
Grades 4-7 The bountiful Orca Footprints series continues with a fresh take on recurring environmental themes. Archaeologist Smith opens with an intriguing introduction to coastal archaeology and artifacts left by ancient humans, such as marine snail-shell beads discovered in South Africa's Blombos Cave. In the second chapter, she explains how scientists are using evidence from these archaeological sites to understand changes to the environment. For instance, archaeologists examining fur-seal bones in Argentina not only study the animals' change in diet but how overhunting and overfishing changed their food sources. The author also departs from traditional Western science in a chapter on generational knowledge among Indigenous communities and how these communities apply their ancestral knowledge toward initiatives like sustainable fishing and gardening. Finally, Smith encourages readers to consider what future archaeologists will think about our "Plastic Age" and how kids can help reduce plastic use and protect coastal environments now. As in previous volumes, chunked text and numerous color photos of science in action make this an accessible and inviting look at ecology.

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