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The Power of Ritual in Prehistory: Secret Societies and Origins of Social Complexity
By Brian Hayden. 2018
The Power of Ritual in Prehistory is the first book in nearly a century to deal with traditional secret societies…
from a comparative perspective and the first from an archaeological viewpoint Providing a clear definition as well as the material signatures of ethnographic secret societies Brian Hayden demonstrates how they worked what motivated their organizers and what tactics they used to obtain what they wanted He shows that far from working for the welfare of their communities traditional secret societies emerged as predatory organizations operated for the benefit of their own members Moreover and contrary to the prevailing ideas that prehistoric rituals were used to integrate communities Hayden demonstrates how traditional secret societies created divisiveness and inequalities They were one of the key tools for increasing political control leading to chiefdoms states and world religions Hayden s conclusions will be eye-opening not only for archaeologists but also for anthropologists political scientists and scholars of religionShamanic Wisdom in the Pyramid Texts: The Mystical Tradition of Ancient Egypt
By Jeremy Naydler. 2005
A radical reinterpretation of the Pyramid Texts as shamanic mystical wisdom rather than funerary rituals• Reveals the mystical nature of…
Egyptian civilization denied by orthodox Egyptologists• Examines the similarity between the pharaoh’s afterlife voyage and shamanic journeying• Shows shamanism to be the foundation of the Egyptian mystical traditionTo the Greek philosophers and other peoples of the ancient world, Egypt was regarded as the home of a profound mystical wisdom. While there are many today who still share that view, the consensus of most Egyptologists is that no evidence exists that Egypt possessed any mystical tradition whatsoever. Jeremy Naydler’s radical reinterpretation of the Pyramid Texts--the earliest body of religious literature to have survived from ancient Egypt--places these documents into the ritual context in which they belong.Until now, the Pyramid Texts have been viewed primarily as royal funerary texts that were used in the liturgy of the dead pharaoh or to aid him in his afterlife journey. This emphasis on funerary interpretation has served only to externalize what were actually experiences of the living, not the dead, king. In order to understand the character and significance of the extreme psychological states the pharaoh experienced--states often involving perilous encounters with alternate realities--we need to approach them as spiritual and religious phenomena that reveal the extraordinary possibilities of human consciousness. It is the shamanic spiritual tradition, argues Naydler, that is the undercurrent of the Pyramid Texts and that holds the key to understanding both the true nature of these experiences and the basis of ancient Egyptian mysticism.Water Histories and Spatial Archaeology
By Michael J. Harrower. 2016
This book offers a new interpretation of the spatial-political-environmental dynamics of water and irrigation in long-term histories of arid regions.…
It compares ancient Southwest Arabia (3500 BC–AD 600) with the American West (2000 BC–AD 1950) in global context to illustrate similarities and differences among environmental, cultural, political, and religious dynamics of water. It combines archaeological exploration and field studies of farming in Yemen with social theory and spatial technologies, including satellite imagery, Global Positioning System (GPS), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping. In both ancient Yemen and the American West, agricultural production focused not where rain-fed agriculture was possible, but in hyper-arid areas where massive state-constructed irrigation schemes politically and ideologically validated state sovereignty. While shaped by profound differences and contingencies, ancient Yemen and the American West are mutually informative in clarifying human geographies of water that are important to understandings of America, Arabia, and contemporary conflicts between civilizations deemed East and West.Ayodhya: Archaeology After Demolition (Revised edition)
By D. Mandal. 2003
Archaeological Research: A Brief Introduction
By Peter N. Peregrine. 2017
This updated edition of Archaeological Research introduces the basic methods of archaeological research, including data collection, analysis, interpretation, as well…
as a consideration of the state of archaeology today. New to the Second Edition is updated information on geographic information systems and remote sensing strategies, and a greatly expanded discussion of practices in cultural resource management archaeology. This popular, concise textbook explores various research methods, analytical techniques, legal and ethical issues facing archaeologists; includes discussions of the archaeological process and record, sampling and research design, survey and excavation methods and strategies, recordkeeping, analysis, archaeological dating, presenting results, and research opportunities; is an excellent text for undergraduate students in basic archaeology courses, field methods courses, and field schoolsTruth or Dare: Encounters with Power, Authority, and Mystery
By Starhawk. 1987
Starhawk's brilliant examination of the nature of power offers creative alternatives for positive change in our personal lives, our communities,…
and our world. Through example and ritual Starhawk empowers readers to resist and renew, to unlearn destructive self-hate and mutual distrust, and create a new culture of life and connectedness.Remote Sensing Technology in Forensic Investigations provides a basic understanding of concepts involved in the use of basic geophysical surveying,…
metal detectors, magnetics, electromagnetics and ground penetrating radar in police and forensic investigations. Such technology can be vital in locating clandestine, buried evidence which is often concealed in the subsurface underground. Crime scene investigation and evidence collection entails locating, identifying, collecting, and cataloging. Such physical evidence searches are time consuming and can often lead to searches that require excavations, which in itself that can destroy evidence. The noninvasive, nondestructive methods outlined in this book can both reduce the time spent on searches and excavations, thereby increasing the probability of locating vital physical evidence. As such, the application of remote sensing methods has gained increased acceptance, and seen increased usage, by investigators. Remote sensing methods are based on making indirect measurements of the surface of and within the earth. The resulting measurement information can be presented in either an imaging format— such as in aerial photography—or a non-imaging format, such as in a profile or contour map. These measurements can be interpreted to identify and characterize contrasts due to differences in physical and natural properties of the materials being studied. This can include physical evidence, remains, and clandestine graves. This book will serve as a handy introductory primer to the technology, techniques, and application of such techniques. Throughout, numerous references and additional resources are provided for those investigators, forensic anthropology, and police professionals who want further information on the technology’s usage for investigative purposes.Ancient Antioch
By De Giorgi, Andrea U.. 2016
From late fourth century BC Seleucid enclave to capital of the Roman east, Antioch on the Orontes was one of…
the greatest cities of antiquity and served as a hinge between east and west. This book draws on a century of archaeological fieldwork to offer a new narrative of Antioch's origins and growth, as well as its resilience, civic pride, and economic opportunism. Situating the urban nucleus in the context of the rural landscape, this book integrates hitherto divorced cultural basins, including the Amuq Valley and the Massif Calcaire. It also brings into focus the archaeological data, thus proposing a concrete interpretative framework that, grounded in the monuments of Antioch, enables the reader to move beyond text-based reconstructions of the city's history. Finally, it considers the interaction between the environment and the people of the city who shaped this region and forged a distinct identity within the broader Greco-Roman world.Earth Alchemy: A Seasonal Guide to Healing our Relationship with the Earth
By Glennie Kindred. 2013
In Earth Alchemy an updated edition of Glennie Kindred s The Alchemist Journey - she…
explores a powerful fusion between the ancient healing art of alchemy and the energy inherent in each of the eight Celtic festivals This practical guide written in Glennie s accessible style show us how to work with each seasonal and alchemical shift and use the natural energy of transformation to experience ourselves in a new way It takes us on a journey of discovery to find our gold the source of our healing and happiness Earth Alchemy includes A key to the Earth Festivals and creating celebrations that encourage our natural ability to transform and change Key alchemical concepts and how they are tied to eternal natural laws we can all harness How to recognize natural phenomenon and their subtle meanings for our personal healing Experiencing the unity and interconnection of ourselves as part of the Earth Beautifully illustrated with Glennie s own deep evocations of alchemical spirit this book is a must read for anyone who is seeking to commune more closely with the natural world and who wishes to become a powerful force for change in the worldHistory as a Science
By Jan Van Dussen. 2011
Since its appearance in 1981 History as a Science has been welcomed as a coherent and comprehensive review and analysis…
of the many aspects of Collingwood's philosophy of history, the development of his views, and their reception. The book was the first to pay extensive attention to Collingwood's unpublished manuscripts, and to his work as an archaeologist and historian. With the publication of this volume Jan van der Dussen, opened up a new angle in Collingwood studies. The republication of this volume meets an increasing demand to make the book available for future Collingwood scholars, and people interested in Collingwood's philosophy. Apart from verbal changes to improve readability and a new pagination, the manuscript is the same as the original.The 2002 revelation that George Washington kept slaves in his executive mansion at Philadelphia's Independence National Historical Park in the…
1790s prompted an eight-year controversy about the role of slavery in America's commemorative landscape. When the President's House installation opened in 2010, it became the first federal property to feature a slave memorial. In Upon the Ruins of Liberty, Roger Aden offers a compelling account that explores the development of this important historic site and how history, space, and public memory intersected with contemporary racial politics. Aden constructs this engrossing tale by drawing on archival material and interviews with principal figures in the controversy-including historian Ed Lawler, site activist Michael Coard, and site designer Emanuel Kelly. Upon the Ruins of Liberty chronicles the politically-charged efforts to create a fitting tribute to the place where George Washington (and later, John Adams) shaped the presidency while denying freedom to the nine enslaved Africans in his household. From design to execution, the plans prompted advocates to embrace stories informed by race, and address difficulties that included how to handle the results of the site excavation. As such, this landmark project raised concerns and provided lessons about the role of public memory and how places are made to shape the nation's identity.Curso aprendiz de Bruja
By Witch Willow. 2016
Una guía original y de agradable lectura, estructurada en 10 lecciones, que introduce en la Wicca, una forma de brujería…
orientada al bien, en comunión y armonía con las energías de la naturaleza. Aquí hallará: * Rituales para hallar el equilibrio de acuerdo con el ciclo de las estaciones. * Remedios naturales para los problemas de salud de carácter menor. * Cosméticos naturales. * Menús para cada día y para los días festivos. * Festividades que toda bruja debe celebrar. Una obra única con la que llegará a ser una auténtica bruja de hoy en día, que le enseñará a cuidarse y a hallar la serenidad y el equilibrio imprescindibles en el mundo actual.Remembering the Dead in the Ancient Near East
By Alexis T. Boutin, Benjamin W. Porter. 2014
Remembering the Dead in the Ancient Near East is among the first comprehensive treatments to present the diverse ways in…
which ancient Near Eastern civilizations memorialized and honored their dead, using mortuary rituals, human skeletal remains, and embodied identities as a window into the memory work of past societies.In six case studies teams of researchers with different skillsets-osteological analysis, faunal analysis, culture history and the analysis of written texts, and artifact analysis-integrate mortuary analysis with bioarchaeological techniques. Drawing upon different kinds of data, including human remains, ceramics, jewelry, spatial analysis, and faunal remains found in burial sites from across the region's societies, the authors paint a robust and complex picture of death in the ancient Near East.Demonstrating the still underexplored potential of bioarchaeological analysis in ancient societies, Remembering the Dead in the Ancient Near East serves as a model for using multiple lines of evidence to reconstruct commemoration practices. It will be of great interest to students and scholars of ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian societies, the archaeology of death and burial, bioarchaeology, and human skeletal biology.The Polity of the Athenians and the Lacedaemonians
By Xenophon, H. G. Dakyns.
The Parthenon Marbles: The Case for Reunification
By Robert Browning, Nadine Gordimer, Christopher Hitchens, Charalamabos Bouras. 2008
The most powerful case yet made for the return of the Parthenon MarblesThe Parthenon Marbles (formerly known as the Elgin…
Marbles), designed and executed by Pheidias to adorn the Parthenon, are perhaps the greatest of all classical sculptures. In 1801, Lord Elgin, then ambassador to the Turkish government, had chunks of the frieze sawn off and shipped to England, where they were subsequently seized by Parliament and sold to the British Museum to help pay off his debts.This scandal, exacerbated by the inept handling of the sculptures by their self-appointed guardians, remains unresolved to this day. In his fierce, eloquent account of a shameful piece of British imperial history, Christopher Hitchens makes the moral, artistic, legal and political case for re-unifying the Parthenon frieze in Athens.The opening of the New Acropolis Museum emphatically trumps the British Museum's long-standing (if always questionable) objection that there is nowhere in Athens to house the Parthenon Marbles. With contributions by Nadine Gordimer and Professor Charalambos Bouras, The Parthenon Marbles will surely end all arguments about where these great treasures belong, and help bring a two-centuries-old disgrace to a just conclusion.From the Trade Paperback edition.The Illumination Process: A Shamanic Guide To Transforming Toxic Emotions Into Wisdom, Power And Grace
By Alberto Villoldo. 2017
The Illumination Process guides the reader on a healing journey, forged by the timeless wisdom of indigenous cultures and the…
latest theories of neurobiology. Through various stages in this journey of initiation, we grow to understand the causes of our suffering and how to free ourselves from the pain and drama of our unhealed emotions. Life itself invites us to be initiated through many means —the possibility of love, the loss of a parent or friend, the birth of a child, or a serious health crisis. True initiation is empowered by facing personal challenges and experiencing the spiritual rebirth —or illumination —that follows.Unifying this book is the sacred process of transforming toxic emotions into sources of power and grace. The Illumination Process shows us how to bid a joyful good-bye to the people and places we have met, discovering a sacred space where the spirit inhabits, uniting the body and soul. When we learn to let go from difficult situations and problems, to accept our lives as they are, we can begin to identify with a self that is eternal.Recounting his own experiences, tracing the mythologies of an array of cultures, and expanding his inquiry into the field of neurobiology, best-selling author Alberto Villoldo shows readers how they can benefit from these sacred practices.Tales of Troy
By Andrew Lang.
Soul Journeying: Shamanic Tools For Finding Your Destiny And Recovering Your Spirit
By Alberto Villoldo. 2017
This fascinating book by best-selling author, psychologist, and medical anthropologist Alberto Villoldo explains the practices for healing outside of ordinary…
time and space. It shows you how to enter the timeless now to heal events that occurred in the past, and to correct the course of destiny. Dr. Villoldo discusses ways in which you can heal yourself and your loved ones by employing intention through practices used by shamans of the Americas —which, until now, have been inaccessible to most of the world. The shamans of old called this journeying.In this book, you’ll discover that you have a four-chambered heart in the same way you have a four-chambered soul. In the first chamber, you store away the memory of a wound that derailed your destiny. In the second, you keep the limiting beliefs and soul contracts that you entered into at the time of your loss. In the third, you recover the grace and trust that will make you whole again; and in the fourth, you remember the calling and mission that you choose to unfold in this lifetime."While everyone has a future," Villoldo says, &lquo;only certain people have a destiny." This book shows you how to find and manifest yours.Manners and Monuments of Prehistoric Peoples
By Marquis De Nadaillac, Nancy Bell.
Zooarchaeology
By Elizabeth J. Reitz, Elizabeth S. Wing. 1999