Reconstructing Complex Societies PDF Download

Author: Charlotte B. Moore
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Archaeology
Languages : en
Pages : 194

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Author: Michael E. Smith
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1139502034
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 357

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Book Description
Part of a resurgence in the comparative study of ancient societies, this book presents a variety of methods and approaches to comparative analysis through the examination of wide-ranging case studies. Each chapter is a comparative study, and the diverse topics and regions covered in the book contribute to the growing understanding of variation and change in ancient complex societies. The authors explore themes ranging from urbanization and settlement patterns, to the political strategies of kings and chiefs, to the economic choices of individuals and households. The case studies cover an array of geographical settings, from the Andes to Southeast Asia. The authors are leading archaeologists whose research on early empires, states, and chiefdoms is at the cutting edge of scientific archaeology.

Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 170

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Author: Jennifer C. Ross
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1315305615
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 585

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Book Description
Ancient Complex Societies examines the archaeological evidence for the rise and functioning of politically and socially “complex” cultures in antiquity. Particular focus is given to civilizations exhibiting positions of leadership, social and administrative hierarchies, emerging and already developed complex religious systems, and economic differentiation. Case studies are drawn from around the globe, including Asia, the Mediterranean region, and the American continents. Using case studies from Africa, Polynesia, and North America, discussion is dedicated to identifying what “complex” means and when it should be applied to ancient systems. Each chapter attempts to not only explore the sociopolitical and economic elements of ancient civilizations, but to also present an overview of what life was like for the later population within each system, sometimes drilling down to individual people living their daily lives. Throughout the chapters, the authors address problems with the idea of complexity, the incomparability of cultures, and the inconsistency of archaeological and historical evidence in reconstructing ancient cultures.

Author: William R. Fowler, Jr.
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 9780849388316
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 308

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This book presents discussions on the formation of complex society of Southeastern Mesoamerica throughout pre-Columbian times. These societies include ones from the Early Preclassic or Formative period to those encountered by the Spaniards when they arrived in the early 16th century. Diverse classes of data from archaeology, ethnography, and ethnohistory are utilized. The book provides wide spatial and temporal coverage, as well as a wide diversity of theoretical perspectives. Anyone interested in archeology or the evolution of prehistoric complex societies will find this book fascinating.

Author: Elizabeth M. Brumfiel
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521321181
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 168

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Book Description
This book, a comparative study of specialised production in prehistoric societies, examines approaches to specialization and exchange.

Author: Joseph Tainter
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521386739
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 268

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Book Description
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.

Author: Joyce C. White
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
ISBN: 1931707219
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 296

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Book Description
The emergence and adoption of metallurgy is one of the seminal topics of investigation in the history of archaeology, particularly in the history of archaeological research in Southeast Asia. The site of Ban Chiang, Thailand, is a central site in debates surrounding the chronology and significance of early metallurgy in the region. This book is the first in a series of four volumes that review the contributions of Ban Chiang and three related sites in northeast Thailand excavated by the Penn Museum to an understanding early metallurgy in Thailand. As the study of archaeometallurgy is a complex topic that draws on numerous technical and social science disciplines, this introductory volume presents in several chapters the background needed to assess the metal and related evidence presented in the subsequent volumes in this series. A history of perspectives on the role of metals in ancient societies generally and Southeast Asia, specifically, is provided. Other chapters debunk the conventional paradigm for understanding metals and society and provide current theoretical perspectives and new paradigms for the study of ancient metals. The geological basis for the presence and location of metal ore resources in the region is reviewed. The final chapter presents a technical overview of ways material properties of ancient metals may be studied. While providing a background to the study of metals at Ban Chiang, the volume also reviews, synthesizes, and repositions the method and theory for the study of archaeometallurgy generally. Thai Archaeology Monograph Series 2A; University Museum Monograph 149

Author: T. C. Champion
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Ethnoarchaeology
Languages : en
Pages : 188

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Author: John Stephen Athens
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Cara Indians
Languages : en
Pages : 730

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