Best of
Prehistory

2010

Celtic from the West: Alternative Perspectives from Archaeology, Genetics, Language and Literature


Barry Cunliffe - 2010
    This 'Celtic Atlantic Bronze Age' theory represents a major departure from the long-established, but increasingly problematic scenario in which the story of the Ancient Celtic languages and that of peoples called Keltoi 'Celts' are closely bound up with the archaeology of the Hallstatt and La Tene cultures of Iron Age west-central Europe. The 'Celtic from the West' proposal was first presented in Barry Cunliffe's Facing the Ocean (2001) and has subsequently found resonance amongst geneticists. It provoked controversy on the part of some linguists, though is significantly in accord with John Koch's findings in Tartessian (2009). The present collection is intended to pursue the question further in order to determine whether this earlier and more westerly starting point might now be developed as a more robust foundation for Celtic studies. As well as having this specific aim, a more general purpose of Celtic from the West is to bring to an English-language readership some of the rapidly unfolding and too often neglected evidence of the pre-Roman peoples and languages of the western Iberian Peninsula. Celtic from the West is an outgrowth of a multidisciplinary conference held at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth in December 2008. In addition to 11 chapters, the book includes 45 distribution maps and a further 80 illustrations. The conference and collaborative volume mark the launch of a multi-year research initiative undertaken by the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies [CAWCS]: Ancient Britain and the Atlantic Zone [ABrAZo]. Contributors: (Archaeology) Barry Cunliffe; Raimund Karl; Amilcar Guerra; (Genetics) Brian McEvoy & Daniel Bradley; Stephen Oppenheimer; Ellen Rrvik; (Language & Literature) Graham Isaac; David Parsons; John T. Koch; Philip Freeman; Dagmar S. Wodtko.

Traces of Fremont: Society and Rock Art in Ancient Utah


Steven R. Simms - 2010
    300–1300 A.D.) first defined by archaeologist Noel Morss in 1928 based on characteristics unique to the area. Initially thought to be a simple socio-political system, recent reassessments of the Fremont assume a more complex society. This volume places Fremont rock art studies in this contemporary context. Author Steven Simms offers an innovative model of Fremont society, politics, and worldview using the principles of analogy and current archaeological evidence. Simms takes readers on a trip back in time by describing what a typical Fremont hamlet or residential area might have looked like a thousand years ago, including the inhabitants' daily activities. François Gohier's captivating photographs of Fremont art and artifacts offer an engaging complement to Simms's text, aiding us in our understanding of the lives of these ancient people.

The Moral Psychology Handbook


John M. Doris - 2010
    The chapters cover major issues in moral psychology, including moral reasoning, character, moral emotion, positive psychology, moral rules, the neural correlates of ethical judgment, and the attribution of moral responsibility. Each chapter is a collaborative effort, written jointly by leading researchers in the field.

How Humanity Came Into Being: The Evolution of Consciousness


Martin Lockley - 2010
    Life, from its earliest days, is a constant exploration of our physical, emotional, mental, and, ultimately, spiritual relationship with the world. It is no wonder, then, that we ponder the perennial questions: Where did we come from? What is our destiny as a species? Why the miracle of human consciousness, our self-awareness, and the agony and ecstasy of our very existence? Why do we possess our senses of order, morality, and purpose, or even intimations of the divine? How Humanity Came into Existence is a unique and remarkably readable book. It explores these kinds of questions about human existence. The authors present a fascinating journey through the anthropological history of humankind, including the arts, science, language, spirituality, and other cultural innovations--in short, all things that make us a unique species. Drawing on the latest research and ideas, the book shows that we are poised at an evolutionary turning point as human beings move collectively toward an awakening.For anyone interested in human consciousness, this book is an important signpost, indicating a way forward.