“Not only does it bring to light rich archival material, but it also describes, with an enjoyable and fluid narrative, the complex network of actors and practices that constituted Mexican archaeology during this period. . . . This superb and entertaining study adds a nuanced perspective to existing studies of archaeology and nationalism.”—New Mexico Historical Review
“The book is beautifully written, never lacking narrative thrust, and always engaging.”—Bulletin of Latin American Research
“Bueno has given voice to both Leopoldo Batres and the local people who opposed him, and she has admirably contextualized their daily struggles within the greater Porfirian nationalist project.”—Hispanic American Historical Review
“An engaging and comprehensive account of the development of archaeology as a national, modernizing project in Porfirian (late nineteenth and early twentieth-century) Mexico. . . . Highly recommended.”—History of Anthropology Newsletter
“Bueno’s book is an important contribution to the history of science and to cultural history by making a case for the centrality of non-professionals and amateurs, like Batres and his collaborators, to the very shaping of scientific ideas.”—Journal of Latin American Studies
“A fascinating look at the formative years of Mexican archaeology and the Porfirian regime's efforts to bring order and progress to the nation’s indigenous patrimony.”—Robert M. Buffington, coauthor of Mexico: An Encyclopedia of Contemporary Culture and History
