Best of
Archaeology

2003

Amelia Peabody's Egypt


Elizabeth Peters - 2003
    Now, with this monumental volume of Egyptian culture, history, and arcania, readers will be able to immerse themselves in the great lady's world more completely than ever before. Journey through the bustling streets and markets of Cairo a hundred years ago. Surround yourself with the customs and color of a bygone time. Explore ancient tombs and temples and marvel at the history of this remarkable land -- from the age of the pharaohs through the Napoleonic era to the First World War. Also included in Amelia Peabody's Egypt are a hitherto unpublished journal entry and intimate biographies of the Emersons and their friends, which provide a uniquely personal view of the lives, relationships, opinions, politics, and delightful eccentricities of mystery's first family, as well as unforgettable pearls of wit and wisdom from everyone's favorite fictional Egyptologist herself.Containing nearly 600 black-and-white photographs and illustrations, and articles by numerous experts, Amelia Peabody's Egypt sparkles with unforgettable glimpses of the exotic and the bizarre, the unusual and the unfamiliar -- a treasure trove that overflows with Egyptological riches, along with wonderful insights into the culture and mores of the Victorian era, including the prevalent attitudes on empire, fashion, feminism, tourists, servants, and much more.A one-of-a-kind collection that offers endless hours of pleasure for Peabodyphiles and Egypt aficionados alike, here is a tome to cherish; a grand andglorious celebration of the life, the work, and the world of the incomparable Amelia Peabody.

After the Ice: A Global Human History, 20,000-5000 BC


Steven Mithen - 2003
    After the Ice is the story of this momentous period--one in which a seemingly minor alteration in temperature could presage anything from the spread of lush woodland to the coming of apocalyptic floods--and one in which we find the origins of civilization itself.Drawing on the latest research in archaeology, human genetics, and environmental science, After the Ice takes the reader on a sweeping tour of 15,000 years of human history. Steven Mithen brings this world to life through the eyes of an imaginary modern traveler--John Lubbock, namesake of the great Victorian polymath and author of Prehistoric Times. With Lubbock, readers visit and observe communities and landscapes, experiencing prehistoric life--from aboriginal hunting parties in Tasmania, to the corralling of wild sheep in the central Sahara, to the efforts of the Guila Naquitz people in Oaxaca to combat drought with agricultural innovations.Part history, part science, part time travel, After the Ice offers an evocative and uniquely compelling portrayal of diverse cultures, lives, and landscapes that laid the foundations of the modern world.

Britain BC: Life in Britain and Ireland Before the Romans


Francis Pryor - 2003
    If you want to be introduced painlessly to the fascinating debates surrounding our British past, then Britain BC is the book for you - Barry Cunliffe, New ScientistFrancis Pryor is a modern field archaeologist with a reputation second to none. He has written a book as successful and exciting as its ambition is huge...lucid and engaging - Alan Garner, The TimesSplendid...a remarkable, imaginative and persuasive account of those other Britons before that [Roman] enslavement: its enthusiastic and confident approach deserves to be very influential - Christopher Chippendale, Times Literary Supplement

On the Reliability of the Old Testament


Kenneth A. Kitchen - 2003
    Questions about the factuality of its colorful stories of heroes, villains, and kings, for example, have led many critics to see the entire Hebrew Bible as little more than pious fiction. In this fascinating book, noted ancient historian K. A. Kitchen takes strong issue with today's "revisionist" critics and offers a firm foundation for the historicity of the biblical texts. In a detailed, comprehensive, and entertaining manner, Kitchen draws on an unprecedented range of historical data from the ancient Near East -- the Bible's own world -- and uses it to soundly reassess both the biblical record and the critics who condemn it. Working back from the latest periods (for which hard evidence is readily available) to the remotest times, Kitchen systematically shows up the many failures of favored arguments against the Bible and marshals pertinent permanent evidence from antiquity's inscriptions and artifacts to demonstrate the basic honesty of the Old Testament writers.  Enhanced with numerous tables, figures, and maps, On the Reliability of the Old Testament is a must-read for anyone interested in the question of biblical truth.

Woven Into the Earth


Else Østergård - 2003
    Preserved intact for centuries by the permafrost, these mediaeval garments display remarkable similarities to western European costumes of the time. Previously, such costumes were known only from contemporary illustrations, and the Greenland finds provided the world with a close look at how ordinary Europeans dressed in the Middle Ages. Fortunately for Norlund's team, wood has always been extremely scarce in Greenland, and instead of caskets, many of the bodies were found swaddled in multiple layers of cast off clothing. When he wrote about the excavation later, Norlund also described how occasional thaws had permitted crowberry and dwarf willow to establish themselves in the top layers of soil. Their roots grew through coffins, clothing and corpses alike, binding them together in a vast network of thin fibers - as if, he wrote, the finds had been literally sewn in the earth. Eighty years of technical advances and subsequent excavations have greatly added to our understanding of the Herjolfsnaes discoveries. Woven into the Earth recounts the dramatic story of Norlund's excavation in the context of other Norse textile finds in Greenland. It then describes what the finds tell us about the materials and methods used in making the clothes. The weaving and sewing techniques detailed here are surprisingly sophisticated, and one can only admire the talent of the women who employed them, especially considering the harsh conditions they worked under. While Woven into the Earth will be invaluable to students of medieval archaeology, Norse society and textile history, both lay readers and scholars are sure to find the book's dig narratives and glimpses of life among the last Vikings fascinating.

A History of the Ancient Near East, ca. 3000-323 BC


Marc Van De Mieroop - 2003
    Beginning c.3000 BC with the advent of the first writing system, Van De Mieroop traces the emergence and development of some of the greatest states and powers, stunning cities and major empires, including the Babylonian and Hittite kingdoms, the Assyrian and Persian Empires and the conquests of Alexander the Great. Van De Mieroop's revisions for the 2nd edition aim to make the text even more accessible, and include the very latest research. "This text deserves a place on the shelves of ancient historians and archaeologists, and it will certainly have pride of place in reading lists for courses in Mesopotamian history" - Norman Yoffee.

Out of Eden


Stephen Oppenheimer - 2003
    It was thought that humans populated the world through a series of migratory waves from their African homeland. This book reveals the revolutionary theory about our origins.

The Buried Soul: How Humans Invented Death


Timothy Taylor - 2003
    In Taylor's groundbreaking investigation, he discusses vampirism, cannibalism, near-death experiences, and modern-day human sacrifice.

Art of the First Cities: The Third Millennium B.C. from the Mediterranean to the Indus


Joan Aruz - 2003
    This illustrated work highlights one of the most important and creative periods in the history of art: a time marked by the appearance of the city states of the Sumerians, the citadel of Troy, the splendid royal tombs at Ur, and the monumental cities at Mohenjodaro and Harappa.

A Guide to Biblical Sites in Greece and Turkey


Clyde E. Fant - 2003
    Although biblically-oriented tours of the areas that were once ancient Greece and Asia Minor have become increasingly popular, up until now there has been no definitive guidebook for these important sites.In A Guide to Biblical Sites in Greece and Turkey, two well-known, well-traveled biblical scholars offer a fascinating historical and archaeological guide to these sites. The authors reveal countless new insights into the biblical text while reliably guiding the traveler through every significant location mentioned in the Bible. The book completely traces the journeys of the Apostle Paul across Turkey (ancient Asia Minor), Greece, Cyprus, and all the islands of the Mediterranean. A description of the location and history of each site is given, followed by an intriguing discussion of its biblical significance. Clearly written and in non-technical language, the work links the latest in biblical research with recent archaeological findings. A visit to the site is described, complete with easy-to-follow walking directions, indicating the major items of archaeological interest. Detailed site maps, historical charts, and maps of the regions are integrated into the text, and a glossary of terms is provided.Easy to use and abundantly illustrated, this unique guide will help visitors to Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus to appreciate the rich history, significance, and great wonder of the ancient world of the Bible.

Smithsonian Earth


Michael AllabyJames F. Luhr - 2003
    With thousands of breathtaking photographs and unique visual catalogues of the features and phenomena that take place on Earth -- such as rocks, minerals, and mountains to tropical rain forests and the different types of clouds -- Earth contains the most up-to-date ideas on how our world works, a compelling review on the health of the planet, and unbelievable images of the world's most stunning features.

Treasury of World Culture: Archaeological Sites and Urban Centers UNESCO World Heritage


Valerio Terraroli - 2003
    This large volume is part of a collaborative project between UNESCO and Skira Editore to publish information on these sites and begins with a selection of 46 archaeological sites or areas from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Descriptions and historical information are placed alongside stunning colour photographs of areas such as the Vatican City, Stonehenge, Angkor, Cracow, Petra, Damascus, Thebes, Copan, Machu Picchu and Nasca. A list of all the archaeological sites and urban areas protected by UNESCO are listed at the back. The next two volumes will focus on individual monumental complexes and environmental areas under threat.

Creek Country: The Creek Indians and Their World


Robbie Ethridge - 2003
    Creek Country presents a compelling portrait of a culture in crisis, of its resiliency in the face of profound change, and of the forces that pushed it into decisive, destructive conflict.Ethridge begins in 1796 with the arrival of U.S. Indian Agent Benjamin Hawkins, whose tenure among the Creeks coincided with a period of increased federal intervention in tribal affairs, growing tension between Indians and non-Indians, and pronounced strife within the tribe. In a detailed description of Creek town life, the author reveals how social structures were stretched to accommodate increased engagement with whites and blacks. The Creek economy, long linked to the outside world through the deerskin trade, had begun to fail. Ethridge details the Creeks' efforts to diversify their economy, especially through experimental farming and ranching, and the ecological crisis that ensued. Disputes within the tribe culminated in the Red Stick War, a civil war among Creeks that quickly spilled over into conflict between Indians and white settlers and was ultimately used by U.S. authorities to justify their policy of Indian removal.

Prehistoric Art: The Symbolic Journey of Humankind


Randall White - 2003
    In fact, remains left by prehistoric men and women are far more numerous and have been found over a much greater territory - including Eurasia, Africa, Australia and the Americas - than most people are aware. These remains include paintings and engravings in caves and rock shelters, but also decorated tools, weapons, statuettes, personal ornaments and even musical instruments made of stone, ivory, antler, shell, bone and fired clay. starting with the first explosion of imagery that occurred approximately 40,000 years ago but also including the creations of essentially prehistoric peoples living as recently as the early 20th century. Drawing on up-to-date research, White places these discoveries in context and discusses possible uses and meanings for the objects and images.

Blue Guide Sicily


Ellen Grady - 2003
    Explores the history, art, architecture and archaeology of this fascinating island, as well as its incomparable landscape and cuisine. With tips on where to stay and how to get around. Includes the small islands off the Sicilian coast, such as Stromboli, Lipari, Ustica, Pantelleria and Lampedusa.

Troy and Homer: Towards a Solution of an Old Mystery


Joachim Latacz - 2003
    Latacz, one of Korfmann's closest collaborators, traces the course of theseexcavations, and the renewed investigation of the imperial Hittite archives they have inspired. As he demonstrates, it is now clear that the background against which the plot of the Iliad is acted out is the historical reality of the thirteenth century BC. The Troy story as a whole must have arisenin this period, and we can detect traces of it in Homer's great poem.

New Era: Reflections on the Human and Natural History of Central Oregon


Jarold Ramsey - 2003
    It is a book full of stories--about early Indian/Anglo connections, about the ghost town of Opal City, about homestead ranches and the families who struggled to make their lives there. Each chapter offers a new perspective on the interplay of human and natural history in a challenging time and place. Although Ramsey's focus is intensely local, he explores how these local details have larger Western and American meanings, too. In his introduction, Ramsey writes that the title of his book comes from the name of our little country school, and if it catches a sense of the indomitable optimism of the homesteaders who established it for their children, I also want it so suggest my concern ... with changes in the land, and with what can get thrown aside and lost in the name of newness and progress. The stories gathered in New Era capture these changing and changed lives and landscapes. Jarold Ramsey was born in Central Oregon and grew up on his family's ranch there. He left the ranch to attend college, and became an award-winning essayist and poet, as well as a published playwright and a respected authority on traditional American Indian literature. New Era will appeal to a wide range of readers beyond those interested in the Oregon high desert country, especially those who value story-telling and the literature of place.

Anglo-Saxon Crafts


Kevin Leahy - 2003
    Kevin Leahy, a trained craftsman and archaeologist, looks at how the artifacts were made—at the materials, the tools, and techniques that were used. His survey ranges from casting a brooch to making a sword, from pottery and weaving to woodworking and building.

The Archaeology of Mothering: An African-American Midwife's Tale


Laurie A. Wilkie - 2003
    Using archaeological materials recovered from a housesite in Mobile, Alabama, Laurie Wilkie explores how one extended African-American family engaged with competing and conflicting mothering ideologies in the post-Emancipation South.

The Graven Image: Representation in Babylonia and Assyria


Zainab Bahrani - 2003
    Instead of imitating the natural world, representation--both in writing and in visual images--was thought to participate in the world and to have an effect upon it in natural, magical, and supernatural ways. The Graven Image is the first book to explore this tradition, which developed prior to, and apart from, the Greek understanding of representation.The classical Greek system, based on the notion of mimesis, or copy, is the one with which we are most familiar today. The Assyro-Babylonian ontology presented here by Zainab Bahrani opens up fresh avenues for thinking about the concept of representation in general, and her reading of the ancient Mesopotamian textual and visual record in its own ontological context develops an entirely new approach to understanding Babylonian and Assyrian arts in particular.The Graven Image describes, for the first time, rituals and wars involving images; the relationship of divination, the organic body, and representation; and the use of images as a substitute for the human form, integrating this ancient material into contemporary debates in critical theory. Bahrani challenges current methodologies in the study of Near Eastern archaeology and art history, introducing a new way to appreciate the unique contributions of Assyrian and Babylonian culture and their complex relationships to the past and present.

Twelve Millennia: Archaeology of the Upper Mississippi River Valley


James L. Theler - 2003
    Focusing on ancient peoples and artefacts, it draws upon knowledge of past climate changes and human adaptation.

Juniper Fuse: Upper Paleolithic Imagination & the Construction of the Underworld


Clayton Eshleman - 2003
    Named after the primitive hand lamp wicks used to light cave walls, the book, in Ronald Gottesman's words, is "a fabulous three-dimensional tapestry of scholarship. Original and intense, it poses serious questions about human nature and its relation to the animal and natural worlds."Juniper Fuse is also a profound examination, in poetry and in prose, of the nature of poetic imagination and personal myth-making. Drawing upon art history and archaeology as well as poetics and personal experience, Eshleman delivers a potent distillation of the "paleoecology" of our minds, a provocative, and wholly passionate, exploration into the nature of consciousness.

Merovingian Mortuary Archaeology and the Making of the Early Middle Ages


Bonnie Effros - 2003
    Those who have unearthed them, from the middle ages to the present, have speculated widely on their meaning. This authoritative book makes a major contribution to the study of death and burial in late antique and early medieval society with its long overdue systematic discussion of this mortuary evidence. Tracing the history of Merovingian archaeology within its cultural and intellectual context for the first time, Effros exposes biases and prejudices that have colored previous interpretations of these burial sites and assesses what contemporary archaeology can tell us about the Frankish kingdoms.Working at the intersection of history and archaeology, and drawing from anthropology and art history, Effros emphasizes in particular the effects of historical events and intellectual movements on French and German antiquarian and archaeological studies of these grave goods. Her discussion traces the evolution of concepts of nationhood, race, and culture and shows how these concepts helped shape an understanding of the past. Effros then turns to contemporary multidisciplinary methodologies and finds that we are still limited by the types of information that can be readily gleaned from physical and written sources of Merovingian graves. For example, since material evidence found in the graves of elite families and particularly elite men is more plentiful and noteworthy, mortuary goods do not speak as directly to the conditions in which women and the poor lived. The clarity and sophistication with which Effros discusses the methods and results of European archaeology is a compelling demonstration of the impact of nationalist ideologies on a single discipline and of the struggle toward the more pluralistic vision that has developed in the post-war years.

Lithic Analysis


George H. Odell - 2003
    The book was awarded the 2005 SAA Award for Excellence in Archaeological Analysis. Some focuses of the manual include: history of stone tool research; procurement, manufacture and function; assemblage variability. It is an incomparable source for academic archaeologists, cultural resource and heritage management archaeologists, government heritage agencies, and upper-level undergraduate and graduate students of archaeology focused on the prehistoric period.

No Bone Unturned: The Adventures of a Top Smithsonian Forensic Scientist and the Legal Battle for America's Oldest Skeletons


Jeff Benedict - 2003
    When the Branch Davidian compound in Waco caught fire, when a terrorist-flown plane crashed into the Pentagon, and when mass graves were uncovered in Croatia, the authorities called Owsley. Through cutting-edge science, instinctive artistry, and dogged tenacity, Owsley painstakingly rebuilds the skeleton, and helps identify it and determine the cause of death.A curator for the Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History, Doug Owsley has handled over ten thousand human skeletons, more than anyone else in America. He has worked with America's historic skeletons, from, colonial Jamestown burials to Plains Indians to Civil War soldiers to skeletons tens of thousands of years old.That includes the Kennewick Man, a 9,600-year-old human skeleton found in shallow water along the banks of Washington State's Columbia River. It was a skeleton that would turn Owsley's life upside down.Days before Owsley was scheduled to begin studying the skeleton, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seized it and announced they would repatriate Kennewick Man, burying his bones on the land of the Native American tribes who claimed him. Along with seven of America's leading scientists, Owsley sued the U.S. government over custody. At stake was a wide body of knowledge about our past and our history that would be lost forever if the bones were reburied. For six years, Owsley fought a legal and political battle that put everything at risk, jeopardizing his career and his reputation.

Ancient Cities: The Archaeology of Urban Life in the Ancient Near East and Egypt, Greece and Rome


Charles Gates - 2003
    Well illustrated with nearly 300 line drawings, maps and photographs, Ancient Cities surveys the cities of the ancient Near East, Egypt, and the Greek and Roman worlds from an archaeological perspective, and in their cultural and historical contexts.Covering a huge area geographically and chronologically, it brings to life the physical world of ancient city dwellers by concentrating on evidence recovered by archaeological excavations from the Mediterranean basin and south-west AsiaExamining both pre-Classical and Classical periods, this is an excellent introductory textbook for students of classical studies and archaeology alike.

Roman Syria and the Near East


Kevin Butcher - 2003
    These included some of the most spectacular ruins of the ancient world-Palmyra, Baalbek, and Apamea-and fabled cities such as Antioch, Damascus, Sidon, and Tyre. Roman Syria also comprised sites that are virtually unknown, such as the great fortress city of Zenobia on the Euphrates and the remarkably well-preserved villages of the limestone massif of northwestern Syria.Roman Syria and the Near East offers a broad overview of this major cultural crossroads. Surveying a millennium of Roman and Byzantine rule in the Near East, from Roman annexation to the Arab conquest, the book outlines Syria's crucial role in Roman history. Topics discussed include the Roman army's use of Syria as a buffer against its powerful eastern neighbors and the elaborate road system that Rome developed to connect its far-reaching empire. The book also explores the impact of geography, trade, and religion on the shaping of Syria, as well as the influence of Syrian culture on the classical world.

The Mystery of the Copper Scroll of Qumran: The Essene Record of the Treasure of Akhenaten


Robert Feather - 2003
    • Confirms the link between ancient Judaism and the pharoah Akhenaten. • Decodes the system of measurements encrypted on the Copper Scroll that has confounded scholars for over 50 years, leading to the identification of fabulous lost treasures.• Points to a radical new understanding of the origins of monotheism. The famous Dead Sea Scrolls comprise the oldest collection of Biblical documents ever discovered. Of the Dead Sea Scrolls, none has baffled experts more than the 2,000-year-old Copper Scroll, discovered in 1952 by a team of Bedouin led by Henri de Contenson of the Ecole Biblique in East Jerusalem. Appearing to be a list of buried treasure engraved on copper pieces, the Copper Scroll is considered to be the work of a secretive Jewish sect of devout Essenes, who lived by the Dead Sea around the time of Jesus. No one has been able to explain its meaning or discover any of the 64 locations where the Biblical treasures it lists were buried. Robert Feather, combining his background as a metallurgist with his journalistic expertise, has unraveled the enigma of the Copper Scroll in a fascinating study that takes the reader on a journey from ancient Mesopotamia, through Canaan, into Egypt, and back to the shores of the Dead Sea. His exploration links the scroll to the ancient Egyptian king Akhenaten, confirming a long suspected influence of this pharaoh's religious beliefs on those of the Hebrews. The author's findings not only reveal the locations of most of the treasures listed on the Copper Scroll, but they also point to a radical new understanding of the origins of monotheism--the basis of the three great religions of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.

Petra Rediscovered: Lost City (Museum Edition) of the Nabataeans


Glenn E. Markoe - 2003
    The Romans absorbed Petra into their empire in 106 A.D., and in 363 A.D. an earthquake left the city in ruins, forgotten in the West until European explorers rediscovered it in the 19th century. Today--largely as a result of the astonishing finds from ongoing archaeological excavations--this beautiful site has become one of the most visited tourist destinations in the Middle East. Petra Rediscovered brings us the discoveries from those excavations, in a spectacular volume that accompanies a major traveling exhibition on the history and art of this evocative ancient city. Vibrantly illustrated with on-site photography--most newly shot for this book--Petra Rediscovered presents the latest archaeological revelations and scholarly research on the city and the Nabataean people. Essays in lively prose by archaeologists who have worked at Petra and researched the art, objects, and inscriptions found there will fascinate history and archaeology buffs, art lovers, and travelers, who will be newly inspired to visit this spectacular site.

Newgrange and the Bend of the Boyne


Geraldine Stout - 2003
    In ancient times it was called the Brugh na Boinne. Today this area is designated as a World Heritage site and is Ireland's first protected Archaeological Park. Its rich fertile soils and south-facing slopes are set in County Meath in the most accessible, low-lying part of Ireland, close to the Irish Sea. This is where the great pre-historic tomb-building tradition of Atlantic Europe reached its zenith. It is where legend says the foundations of Irish Christianity were laid and is also the home of Ireland's first medieval Cistercian monastery at Mellifont. On the banks of the Boyne in 1690 one of the most important battles in Irish history was fought.The Bend of the Boyne had a pivotal role to play in Irish history and this is evident in its abundant physical remains, which can be traced among its fields and riverbanks. Through the interpretation of these remains this book presents an understanding of how this landscape was organized and exploited by communities over seven thousand years of settlement. This book draws heavily on the results of an extensive program of excavation at Knowth, Newgrange and Monknewtown and archaeological survey, which has greatly increased our knowledge of prehistoric societies. Using a wide range of maps, color photographs and historic as well as new drawings, it traces the gradual evolution of the landscape to the present day. The book is also concerned with the future of this protected cultural landscape and recommends actions to ensure its protection and preservation.

The Postclassic Mesoamerican World


Michael E. Smith - 2003
    Smith and Frances F. BerdanAnthropology and ArchaeologyThe past two decades have seen an explosion of research on Postclassic Mesoamerican societies. In this ambitious new volume, the editors and contributors seek to present a complete picture of the middle and late Postclassic period (ca. AD 1100-1500) employing a new theoretical framework.Mesoamerican societies after the collapse of the great city-states of Tula and Chichen Itza stand out from earlier societies in a number of ways. They had larger regional populations, smaller polities, a higher volume of long-distance trade, greater diversity of trade goods, a more commercialized economy, and new standardized forms of pictorial writing and iconography. The emerging archaeological record reveals larger quantities of imported goods in Postclassic contexts, and ethnohistoric accounts describe marketplaces, professional merchants, and the use of money throughout Mesoamerica by the time of the Spanish conquest. The integration of this commercial economy with new forms of visual communication produced a dynamic world system that reached every corner of Mesoamerica.Thirty-six focused articles by twelve authors describe and analyze the complexity of Postclassic Mesoamerica. After an initial theoretical section, chapters are organized by key themes: polities, economic networks, information networks, case studies, and comparisons. Covering a region from western Mexico to Yucatan and the southwestern Maya highlands, this volume should be in the library of anyone with a serious interest in ancient Mexico.

Lightning Warrior: Maya Art and Kingship at Quirigua


Matthew G. Looper - 2003
    Though always a relatively small city, Quirigua stands out because of its public monuments, which were some of the greatest achievements of Classic Maya civilization. Impressive not only for their colossal size, high sculptural quality, and eloquent hieroglyphic texts, the sculptures of Quirigua are also one of the few complete, in situ series of Maya monuments anywhere, which makes them a crucial source of information about ancient Maya spirituality and political practice within a specific historical context. Using epigraphic, iconographic, and stylistic analyses, this study explores the integrated political-religious meanings of Quirigua’s monumental sculptures during the eighth-century A.D. reign of the city’s most famous ruler, K’ak’ Tiliw. In particular, Matthew Looper focuses on the role of stelae and other sculpture in representing the persona of the ruler not only as a political authority but also as a manifestation of various supernatural entities with whom he was associated through ritual performance. By tracing this sculptural program from its Early Classic beginnings through the reigns of K’ak’ Tiliw and his successors, and also by linking it to practices at Copan, Looper offers important new insights into the politico-religious history of Quirigua and its ties to other Classic Maya centers, the role of kingship in Maya society, and the development of Maya art.

Past Worlds Harper Collins Atlas Of Archaelogy


Colin Renfrew - 2003
    

The Protogeometric Aegean: The Archaeology of the Late Eleventh and Tenth Centuries BC


Irene S. Lemos - 2003
    There are chapters on pottery, metal finds, burial customs, architectural remains (and how to use them to understand the social and political structure of the society), cult practices, and developments towards state formation. The book will be useful to field archaeologists, historians of ancient Greece, and students.

The Bioarchaeology of Tuberculosis: A Global View on a Reemerging Disease


Charlotte A. Roberts - 2003
    Though apparently in decline during the first half of the 20th century, tuberculosis has reawakened in both developed and developing countries, particularly among susceptible populations with immunodeficiency disorders.

Knives and Scabbards


J. Cowgill - 2003
    Forged and hafted with great skill, sometimes with elaborately decorated scabbards, knives are of intrinsic fascination, besides being indicators of the popular artistic tastes of the time. This book catalogues, discusses and illustrates over five hundred knives, scabbards, shears and scissors dating from the mid-12th to the mid-15th centuries and found in the City of London, particularly along the waterfront sites, where recovered items can be accurately dated by dendrochronology and coin finds. It is a fundamental work of reference for medieval artefacts and material culture, an essential handbook for excavators all over Britain and much of Europe. JANE COWGILL, MARGRETHE DE NEERGAARDE and NICK GRIFFITHS are former members of the staff of the Museum of London.

Prehistoric Orkney


Anna Ritchie - 2003
    An evocative look at the ancient Scottish monuments, and what they reveal about the Orcadian way of life, from the earliest farmers around 4000 BC, to the Viking onslaught of AD 800.

Revealing the Buried Past: Geophysics for Archaeologists


John Gater - 2003
    From banging the surface of the ground with a pick in the late 19th century, through Atkinson’s revolutionary use of the “Megger–Earth Tester,” to modern-day radar survey, the value of geophysical techniques is lucidly explained with many real–life case studies.

Stukeley Illustrated: William Stukeley's Rediscovery of Britain's Ancient Sites


Neil Mortimer - 2003
    The book brings together over 100 black and white engravings from one of the eighteenth century's most remarkable antiquarians, William Stukeley. Stukeley was the first man to study in detail the grand prehistoric sites of the Britain in his three brilliant books. These were Stonehenge: A Temple Restor'd to the British Druids, Abury: A Temple of the British Druids and Itinerarium Curiosum - a tour around the monuments of the UK covering everything from natural wonders to Medieval crosses. For the first time, many of Stukeley's detailed drawings, hitherto incredibly difficult to get hold of, are put together in an easy to use format. The book is divided into four main sections with an Introduction covering Stukeley's life and works, a chapter each on Stonehenge and Avebury, and finally a range illustrations from Itinerarium Curiosum covering sites such as Figsbury Rings, Glastonbury, Old Sarum, Kits Coty House, Stanton Drew, Boscawen-Un, Meini Gwyr, The Merry Maidens and The Devil's Arrows. Published by Green Magic, the book is a must for anyone interested in the prehistoric sites of Britain and well worth the price.

Jomon Reflections: Forager Life and Culture in the Prehistoric Japanese Archipelago


Tatsuo Kobayashi - 2003
    From the end of the last Ice Age 12,000 years ago to the appearance of rice agriculture around 400 BC, Jomon people subsisted by hunting, fishing and gathering; but abundant and predictable sources of wild food enabled Jomon people to live in large, relatively permanent settlements, and to develop an elaborate material culture. In this book Kobayashi and Kaner explore thematic issues in Jomon archaeology: the appearance of sedentism in the Japanese archipelago and the nature of Jomon settlements; the invention of pottery and the development and meaning of regional pottery styles; social and spiritual life; as well as the astronomical significance of causeway monuments and the conceptualization of landscape in the Jomon period.

Gold and Power in Ancient Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia


Jeffrey Quilter - 2003
    Throughout this vast region, from about AD 700 until the sixteenth-century Spanish invasion, a rich and varied tradition of goldworking was practiced. The amount of gold produced and worn by native inhabitants was so great that Columbus dubbed the last New World shores he sailed as Costa Rica--the "Rich Coast."Despite the long-recognized importance of the region in its contribution to Pre-Columbian culture, very few books are readily available, especially in English, on these lands of gold. "Gold and Power in Ancient Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia" now fills that gap with eleven articles by leading scholars in the field. Issues of culture change, the nature of chiefdom societies, long-distance trade and transport, ideologies of value, and the technologies of goldworking are covered in these essays as are the role of metals as expressions and materializations of spiritual, political, and economic power. These topics are accompanied by new information on the role of stone statuary and lapidary work, craft and trade specialization, and many more topics, including a reevaluation of the concept of the "Intermediate Area."Collectively, the volume provides a new perspective on the prehistory of these lands and includes articles by Latin American scholars whose writings have rarely been published in English.

An Archaeological Study of Rural Capitalism and Material Life: The Gibbs Farmstead in Southern Appalachia, 1790-1920


Mark D. Groover - 2003
    Since the 1600s the agriculture practiced on American farms has been a catalyst of both geographic settlement and economic expansion. During the 19th century, four generations of the Nicholas Gibbs family operated a successful farm in Knox County, East Tennessee.In this book, archaeology and historical information are combined with strands of thought in world systems theory and the Annales school of French social history to explore the influence of rural capitalism upon everyday life and material conditions at a Southern Appalachian farmstead. Focusing upon the domestic landscape, architecture, and household items, consideration of material life reveals the presence of a substantial folk orientation among the Gibbs family that was also significantly influenced by larger trends within national-level consumerism and popular culture.An Archaeological Study of Rural Capitalism and Material Life will be of interest to historical archaeologists, cultural anthropologists, social historians, and historical sociologists, especially researchers studying the influence of globalization and economic development upon rural regions like Appalachia.

The Archaeology of Seafaring in Ancient South Asia


Himanshu Prabha Ray - 2003
    She uses archaeological data to reveal the connections between the early history of peninsular South Asia and its Asian and Mediterranean partners in the Indian Ocean region. Differing from traditional works on the subject, the book discusses maritime history in the broader sense of ancient seafaring activity, religious travel and political economy rather than focusing specifically on maritime trade and shipping.

Origins and Revolutions: Human Identity in Earliest Prehistory


Clive Gamble - 2003
    The first is the 'human revolution', when evidence for art, music, religion and language first appears. The second is the economic and social revolution of the Neolithic period. Gamble identifies the historical agendas behind 'origins research' and presents a bold alternative to these established frameworks, relating the study of change to the material basis of human identity. He examines, through artefact proxies, how changing identities can be understood using embodied material metaphors and in two major case-studies charts the prehistory of innovations, asking, did agriculture really change the social world? This is an important and challenging book that will be essential reading for every student and scholar of prehistory.

Moche Portraits from Ancient Peru


Christopher B. Donnan - 2003
    Using the medium of three-dimensional ceramic vessels that could have contained liquid, Moche artisans typically formed the heads of the individuals they wished to portray, though sometimes they presented full figures with realistic portrait faces. Depicting an astonishing range of physical types, these portraits now allow us to meet Moche people who lived more than 1,500 years ago and to sense the nuances of their individual personalities.This pathfinding book presents the first wide-ranging, systematic study of the Moche portraits. Drawing on more than 900 examples from museums and private collections around the world (some 300 of which are illustrated here in full color) Christopher Donnan documents how the portrait tradition evolved, how the portraits were produced and distributed, who they portrayed, why they were made, and how they were used in Moche society. His analysis is supported by extensive archaeological evidence, which provides the context for portraits found in Moche tombs and midden deposits, as well as useful information for identifying the headdresses and ornaments worn by the individuals portrayed.

Medieval Dyes


Jodi Smith - 2003
    “Alizarin”, a pigment found in madder root, is named after the Persian word for madder dye, “al lizari”.) 22 black and white illustrations, by the late C. Ellen Young 1 color photo

The Scandinavians from the Vendel Period to the Tenth Century: An Ethnographic Perspective


Judith Jesch - 2003
    The contributors provide an outline ethnograpjy, covering dwellings and settlements, kinship and social relations, law, political structures and external relations, rural and urban economies, and the ideology of warfare. The topics are discussed through case-studies from the contributors' recent research, illustrating the changing scholarly interpretations of this formative period in Scandinavian history. By addressing these key research questions, the contributions trace the background to and the impact of urbanisation and Christianisation, and the development of royal power, which stimulated the transition from the Viking age to the medieval period in Scandinavia. This book brings together for the first time in English a wealth of current Scandinavian archaeological, historical and cultural research. JUDITH JESCH is Reader in Viking Studies at the University of Nottingham. Contributors: LENA HOLMQUIST OLAUSSON, BENTE MAGNUS, E. VESTERGAARD, BIRGIT ARRHENIUS, STEFAN BRINK, LISE BENDER JORGENSEN, SVEND NIELSEN, FRANDS HERSCHEND, NIELS LUND, DAVID N. DUMVILLE, JUDITH JESCH, DENNIS H. GREEN.

Ancient Europe, 8000 B.C. to A.D. 1000: An Encyclopedia of the Barbarian World


Peter I. Bogucki - 2003
    Viewed as barbarian through the lens of ancient Greece and Rome, these civilizations were responsible for such accomplishments as the rise of farming in the Neolithic era and the building of Stonehenge. Coverage extends from prehistoric origins through the early Middle Ages (8000 B.C. to A.D. 1000) when tribal movements helped define the end of ancient culture and the rise of the modern European world. Arrange topically and chronologically Ancient Europe, 8000 B.C. to A.D. 1000 features include 200 illustrations (including the black & white images, color images, and line drawings); 70 maps; a chronology; index; two eight-page color inserts; cartographic endpapers; glossary of key archaeological terms and more.

State Formation in Early China


Li Liu - 2003
    Analyzing data from archaeology, geology, cultural geography, ethnohistory and ancient texts, the authors show how the procurement of key external resources - especially metal and salt - drove the dynamics of state formation in early China in the period of 1800-1400BC.

Archaeology by Design


Stephen L. Black - 2003
    With large numbers of people involved, the complex logistics of fieldwork, funding needed for projects of any size, and a bewildering set of legal regulations and ethical norms to follow, a well-run archaeological project requires careful and detailed planning. In this reader-friendly guide, Black and Jolly give novice researchers invaluable practical advice on the process of designing successful field projects. Encompassing both directed academic and directed CRM projects, they outline the elements needed in your professional toolkit, show step-by-step how an archaeological project proceeds, focus on developing appropriate research questions and theoretical models, and address implementation issues from NAGPRA regulations down to estimating the number of shovels to toss into the pickup. Sidebars explain important topics like the Section 106 process, the importance of ethnology and geology to archaeologists, OSHA requirements, and how to assess significance. Archaeology by Design is an ideal starting point for giving students and novices the big picture of a contemporary archaeological project.

Santorini: A Guide to the Island and Its Archaeological Treasures


Christos Doumas - 2003
    INTRODUCTION: Geography and Geology; Historical Outline; Archaeological Research; THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES: PREHISTORIC THERA: AKROTIRI: The Houses; Pottery; Wall-Paintings; Stone Tools and Vessels; Miniature Art and Metal-Working; External Relations; Economic, Social, and Political Organisation; The Catastrophe and the Myth of Atlantis; ANCIENT THERA: MESA VOUNO: Town Plan; Architecture; The Agora; The Sanctuaries; Other Public Buildings; Private Houses; Art and Letters; Funerary Customs; External Relations; Social Organisation and Way of Life; TOUR OF THE ISLAND: Phira; Merovigli; Oia; Vothonas; Pyrgos; Prophitis Ilias; Mesa and Exo Gonia; Akrotiri; Emborion.

Geometric Greece


J.N Coldstream - 2003
    Coldstream has now fully updated his comprehensive survey with a substantial new chapter on the abundant discoveries and developments made since the book's first publication.The text is presented in three main sections: the passing of the dark ages, c.900-770 BC; the Greek renaissance, c.770-700 BC, covered region by region, and the final part on life in eighth century Greece. Its geographical coverage of the Mediterranean ranges from Syria to Sicily, and the detailed archaeological evidence is amplified by reference to literary sources.Highly illustrated, including images of several finds never previously published, this follows the first successful edition as the essential handbook for anyone studying early Greek antiquity.