Best of
Archaeology

1988

Collapse of Complex Societies


Joseph A. Tainter - 1988
    The Collapse of Complex Societies, though written by an archaeologist, will therefore strike a chord throughout the social sciences. Any explanation of societal collapse carries lessons not just for the study of ancient societies, but for the members of all such societies in both the present and future. Dr. Tainter describes nearly two dozen cases of collapse and reviews more than 2000 years of explanations. He then develops a new and far-reaching theory that accounts for collapse among diverse kinds of societies, evaluating his model and clarifying the processes of disintegration by detailed studies of the Roman, Mayan and Chacoan collapses.

Unlocking the Mysteries of Creation: The Explorer's Guide to the Awesome Works of God


Dennis R. Petersen - 1988
    It captivates and engages those who may not even be prone to read books.

Past Worlds: The Times Atlas of Archaeology


Christopher Scarre - 1988
    As well as examining the well known classical civilisations, it looks at the obscure and mysterious, such as the pyramid temples of the Yucatan.

Shoes and Pattens


Francis Grew - 1988
    Glimpses in manuscript illustrations and on funerary monuments, with the occasional reference by a contemporary writer, was all that the costume historian had as evidence, not least because leather tends to perish after prolonged contact with air, and very few actual examples survived. In recent years, however, nearly 2,000 shoes, many complete and in near-perfect condition, have been discovered preserved on the north bank of the Thames, and are now housed in the Museum of London. This collection, all from well-dated archaeological contexts, fills this vast gap in knowledge, making it possible to chart precisely the progress of shoe fashion between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries.

Ancient Israel: From Abraham to the Roman Destruction of the Temple


Hershel Shanks - 1988
    Offers highest-quality authorship from respected leaders in their fields. Provides numerous color and black-and-white photos, maps, charts, and timelines. Gives a broader sweep of history, starting at an earlier point and/or ending at a later point than other books on the subject. Adds and updates evidence, analysis, and insights of events, based on developments since the book's first edition. Perfect for adult study groups and Bible groups, and anyone who wants to learn more about Israel's history or needs a refresher course.

Ships and Shipwrecks of the Americas: A History Based on Underwater Archaeology


George F. Bass - 1988
    The book brings together the work of leading nautical archaeologists, each with first-hand diving experience. Twelve chapters tell the story of watercraft in the Americas, accompanied by photographs, paintings, diagrams, charts and maps.

King Herod's Dream: Caesarea on the Sea


Kenneth G. Holum - 1988
    + 244 pp. with 176 illus. (most in color), 4to.

Islay


Norman S. Newton - 1988
    Helping visitors to explore and understand the landscape, this book also offers information on services, facilities and places to visit.

The Dartmoor Reaves: Investigating Prehistoric Land Divisions


Andrew Fleming - 1988
    This major new edition adds both colour illustrations and two substantial new chapters to the original groundbreaking text, which revolutionised our understanding of Britain's prehistoric landscapes. Dartmoor has long been known for the richness of its prehistoric heritage; stone circles, hut circles, massive burial cairns, and stone rows all pepper the landscape. In the 1970s a new dimension was added, with the recognition that the long-ignored reaves (ruined walls) are also prehistoric; Dartmoor now posed all sorts of questions about the nature of Bronze Age society. Andrew Fleming describes the critical moment when his own fieldwork picked up the pattern of the reaves, and he realised their true identity. His new chapters places Dartmoor's large-scale, planned, prehistoric landscapes in the context of other 'co-axial' field systems that have since been found elsewhere, and also discuss their meaning, in the light of the latest research on the Bronze Age.

Anatolia Land Of Mother Goddess


Reşit Ergener - 1988
    The societies realizing this transition were matriarchial.Along with the transition to agriculture, the mother goddess also made her first appearance in Anatolia.This book is an account of the emergence of our civilisation and of the mother goddess in Anadolu.[Taken from the back cover of the book]

A Guide to the Egyptian Museum, Cairo


Egyptian Antiquities Organization - 1988