An Archaeology of the Cosmos

An Archaeology of the Cosmos PDF Author: Timothy R. Pauketat
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 0415521289
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 246

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Book Description
An Archaeology of the Cosmos seeks answers to two fundamental questions of humanity and human history. The first question concerns that which some use as a defining element of humanity: religious beliefs. Why do so many people believe in supreme beings and holy spirits? The second question concerns changes in those beliefs. What causes beliefs to change? Using archaeological evidence gathered from ancient America, especially case material from the Great Plains and the pre-Columbian American Indian city of Cahokia, Timothy Pauketat explores the logical consequences of these two fundamental questions. Religious beliefs are not more resilient than other aspects of culture and society, and people are not the only causes of historical change. An Archaeology of the Cosmos examines the intimate association of agency and religion by studying how relationships between people, places, and things were bundled together and positioned in ways that constituted the fields of human experience. This rethinking theories of agency and religion provides readers with challenging and thought provoking conclusions that will lead them to reassess the way they approach the past.

An Archaeology of the Cosmos

An Archaeology of the Cosmos PDF Author: Timothy R. Pauketat
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 0415521289
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 246

Get Book Here

Book Description
An Archaeology of the Cosmos seeks answers to two fundamental questions of humanity and human history. The first question concerns that which some use as a defining element of humanity: religious beliefs. Why do so many people believe in supreme beings and holy spirits? The second question concerns changes in those beliefs. What causes beliefs to change? Using archaeological evidence gathered from ancient America, especially case material from the Great Plains and the pre-Columbian American Indian city of Cahokia, Timothy Pauketat explores the logical consequences of these two fundamental questions. Religious beliefs are not more resilient than other aspects of culture and society, and people are not the only causes of historical change. An Archaeology of the Cosmos examines the intimate association of agency and religion by studying how relationships between people, places, and things were bundled together and positioned in ways that constituted the fields of human experience. This rethinking theories of agency and religion provides readers with challenging and thought provoking conclusions that will lead them to reassess the way they approach the past.

Archaeologies of Cosmoscapes in the Americas

Archaeologies of Cosmoscapes in the Americas PDF Author: J. Grant Stauffer
Publisher: Oxbow Books
ISBN: 1789258456
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 505

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Book Description
This volume examines how pre-Columbian societies in the Americas envisioned their cosmos and iteratively modeled it through the creation of particular objects and places. It emphasizes that American societies did this to materialize overarching models and templates for the shape and scope of the cosmos, the working definition of cosmoscape. Noting a tendency to gloss over the ways in which ancestral Americans envisioned the cosmos as intertwined and animated, the authors examine how cosmoscapes are manifested archaeologically, in the forms of objects and physically altered landscapes. This book’s chapters, therefore, offer case studies of cosmoscapes that present themselves as forms of architecture, portable artifacts, and transformed aspects of the natural world. In doing so, it emphasizes that the creation of cosmoscapes offered a means of reconciling peoples experiences of the world with their understandings of them.

Defining the Sacred

Defining the Sacred PDF Author: Nicola Laneri
Publisher: Oxbow Books
ISBN: 178297685X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 197

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Book Description
Religion is a phenomenon that is inseparable from human society. It brings about a set of emotional, ideological and practical elements that are pervasive in the social fabric of any society and characterizable by a number of features. These include the establishment of intermediaries in the relationship between humans and the divine; the construction of ceremonial places for worshipping the gods and practicing ritual performances; and the creation ritual paraphernalia. Investigating the religious dimensions of ancient societies encounters problems in defining such elements, especially with regard to societies that lack textual evidences and has tended to lead towards the identification of differentiation between the mental dimension, related to religious beliefs, and the material one associated with religious practices, resulting in a separation between scholars able to investigate, and possibly reconstruct, ritual practices (i.e., archaeologists), and those interested in defining the realm of ancient beliefs (i.e., philologists and religious historians). The aim of this collection of papers is to attempt to bridge these two dimensions by breaking down existing boundaries in order to form a more comprehensive vision of religion among ancient Near Eastern societies. This approach requires that a higher consideration be given to those elements (either artificial -- buildings, objects, texts, etc. -- or natural -- landscapes, animals, trees, etc.) that are created through a materialization of religious beliefs and practices enacted by members of communities. These issues are addressed in a series of specific case-studies covering a broad chronological framework that from the Pre-pottery Neolithic to the Iron Age. (Cover illustration © German Archaeological Institute, photo N. Becker)

Solarizing the Moon: Essays in honour of Lionel Sims

Solarizing the Moon: Essays in honour of Lionel Sims PDF Author: Fabio Silva
Publisher: Archaeopress Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 1803271132
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 258

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Book Description
Lionel Sims has produced an influential body of work that has challenged existing narratives about British prehistoric monuments and provided innovative ways to approach and think about skyscapes. This book, in his honour, is divided into three parts: Anthropology and Human Origins, Prehistory and Megalithic Monuments, and Theory.

Marvels Of the Cosmos

Marvels Of the Cosmos PDF Author: Pabitra Banerjee
Publisher: Pabitra Banerjee
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 387

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Book Description
"Marvels of the Cosmos" invites you on an extraordinary journey through the celestial tapestry that graces our night skies. In this captivating exploration, the book unveils the wonders of the cosmos with a poetic and insightful narrative that transcends the boundaries of ordinary stargazing. Each page is an invitation to wander the vast expanses of space, where stars shimmer like ethereal jewels, planets dance in cosmic ballets, and galaxies unfold their majestic arms in celestial symphonies. Through vivid descriptions and awe-inspiring storytelling, "Marvels of the Cosmos" paints a breathtaking portrait of the universe, guiding readers beyond the veil of city lights to behold the true splendor of a dark night sky. From the ancient myths that trace constellations to the cutting-edge discoveries that unravel the mysteries of distant galaxies, the book seamlessly weaves together the threads of human fascination with the cosmos. As you turn the pages, you will find yourself immersed in the enchanting tales of ancient astronomers who first dared to map the stars, the profound revelations of modern astrophysics, and the cosmic wonders that continue to captivate our imaginations. Whether you are a seasoned astronomer or a curious stargazer, "Marvels of the Cosmos" is an odyssey that beckons you to gaze upward and contemplate the profound beauty and complexity of the universe. This literary masterpiece doesn't merely depict the cosmos as a scientific canvas but transforms it into a celestial poem, inviting readers to ponder the timeless questions that have fueled humanity's quest for understanding. "Marvels of the Cosmos" is not just a book; it's an odyssey into the heart of the night sky, a lyrical exploration that kindles a sense of wonder and reverence for the vastness that surrounds us.

Monumental Earthen Architecture in Early Societies: Technology and power display

Monumental Earthen Architecture in Early Societies: Technology and power display PDF Author: Annick Daneels
Publisher: Archaeopress Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 1784912840
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 73

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Book Description
Proceedings from a session held as part of the XVII World UISPP Congress, Burgos, 2014. The theme of the symposium was the archaeology of earthen architecture in pre- and protohistoric cultures, with an emphasis on constructive techniques and systems, and diachronic changes in those aspects.

The Biblical Cosmos

The Biblical Cosmos PDF Author: Robin A Parry
Publisher: Lutterworth Press
ISBN: 0718843940
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 303

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Book Description
Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of the Bible.Robin Parry takes the reader on a guided tour of the biblical cosmos with the goal of opening up the Bible in its ancient world. He then goes further and shows how this very ancient biblical way of seeing the world is still revelatory and can speak God's word afresh into our own modern worlds.

Moon Hunt

Moon Hunt PDF Author: W. Michael Gear
Publisher: Forge Books
ISBN: 1466874600
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 415

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Book Description
Moon Hunt is the third epic tale in the Morning Star series by New York Times bestselling authors W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear. Against the intricate majesty that was America’s greatest pre-Columbian city, the Gears have once again woven the latest archaeological data into a painstakingly accurate reconstruction of Cahokia and provide a rare look into the mystical underpinnings of Native American culture. What happens when your god goes missing? The lord god of Cahokia has been spirited away to the Underworld and the empire teeters on the brink of disaster as clans fight for control. Night Shadow Star, the god’s human sister, and Fire Cat, her warrior bodyguard, are the only two people who can bring him back. They descend into the Sacred Cave where monsters dwell, willing to sacrifice themselves to save their kingdom. What they find makes them question if that sacrifice is worth it. The Morning Star Trilogy #1 People of the Morning Star #2 Sun Born #3 Moon Hunt At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Cosmos

Cosmos PDF Author: Alexander von Humboldt
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 464

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Book Description


New Methods and Theories for Analyzing Mississippian Imagery

New Methods and Theories for Analyzing Mississippian Imagery PDF Author: Bretton T. Giles
Publisher: University Press of Florida
ISBN: 1683402464
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 283

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Book Description
In this volume, contributors show how stylistic and iconographic analyses of Mississippian imagery provide new perspectives on the beliefs, narratives, public ceremonies, ritual regimes, and expressions of power in the communities that created the artwork. Exploring various methodological and theoretical approaches to pre-Columbian visual culture, these essays reconstruct dynamic accounts of Native American history across the U.S. Southeast.  These case studies offer innovative examples of how to use style to identify and compare artifacts, how symbols can be interpreted in the absence of writing, and how to situate and historicize Mississippian imagery. They examine designs carved into shell, copper, stone, and wood or incised into ceramic vessels, from spider iconography to owl effigies and depictions of the cosmos. They discuss how these symbols intersect with memory, myths, social hierarchies, religious traditions, and other spheres of Native American life in the past and present. The tools modeled in this volume will open new horizons for learning about the culture and worldviews of past peoples. A volume in the Florida Museum of Natural History: Ripley P. Bullen Series  Contributors: David Dye | Shawn P. Lambert | Bretton T. Giles | Vernon J. Knight, Jr. | Anna Semon | J. Grant Stauffer | Jesse Nowak | George E Lankford