Andean Archaeology II: Art, Landscape, and Society

by Helaine Silverman (Editor), William H. Isbell (Editor)

Overview

The origins and development of civilization are vital components to the understanding of the cultural processes that create human societies. Comparing and contrasting the evolutionary sequences from different civilizations is one approach to discovering their unique development. One area for comparison is in the Central Andes where several societies remained in isolation without a written language. As a direct result, the only resource to understand these societies is their material artifacts.

In this second volume, the focus is on the art and landscape remains and what they uncover about societies of the Central Andes region. The ancient art and landscape, revealing the range and richness of the societies of the area significantly shaped the development of Andean archaeology. This work includes discussions on:

- pottery and textiles;

- iconography and symbols;

- ideology;

- geoglyphs and rock art.

This volume will be of interest to Andean archaeologists, cultural and historical anthropologists, material archaeologists and Latin American historians.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780306472503
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	07/31/2002
Edition description:	2002
Pages:	376
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.03(d)

Table of Contents

I. Introduction.- 1. From Art to Material Culture.- II. Andean Art and Society.- 2. Identification of the Camelid Woman and Feline Man Themes, Motifs, and Designs in Pucara Style Pottery.- 3. Differentiating Paracas Necropolis and Early Nasca Textiles.- 4. Proto-Writing in Moche Pottery at Cerro Mayal, Peru.- 5. Chachapoya Iconography and Society at Laguna de los Cóndores, Peru.- 6. Art and Prestige among Noble Houses of the Equatorial Andes.- III. Landscapes of Power.- 7. The Gateways of Tiwanaku: Symbols or Passages?.- 8. Religious Ideology and Military Organization in the Iconography of a D-Shaped Ceremonial Precinct at Conchopata.- 9. A New Perspective on Conchopata and the Andean Middle Horizon.- 10. The Correlation Between Geoglyphs and Subterranean Water Resources in the Río Grande de Nazca Drainage.- 11. Rock Art, Historical Memory, and Ethnic Boundaries: A Study from the Northern Andean Highlands.- IV. Conclusion.- 12. Issues of Cultural Production and Reproduction.

Editorial Reviews

From the Reviews:

"...these volumes stand as an excellent overview of current Andean archaeological research, outside the confines of a particular school or perspective. This is, to my knowledge, the first English-language edited overview of Andean archaeology to be produced in at least 10 years. Both volumes should be on the shelves of all Andean prehistorians and university libraries, and could also provide an introduction to current Andean research for archaeologists working in other places. For those who teach an undergraduate course on the prehistory of the Andes either or both books would provide an excellent, and conveniently packaged, selection of in-depth materials that could accompany a more general text. Those with a general interest in the prehistory of the Andes will find much detail in Silverman and Isbell's volumes. The authors are to be congratulated on such a wide-ranging collection, and here is hoping that their wish to add further volumes to the series is realized in the near future."

(Ross W. Jamieson, Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies)

From the Publisher

The first of two volumes, which editors hope will grow into a series, emphasizes actual material remains as the primary sources of knowledge about the past. Some of the 13 papers in the first volume were presented at a 1998 conference in Binghamton, New York. Topics include variations in sociopolitical organizations, early Andean civilizations, traditions of imperialism, and tracking the source of Quispisisa obsidian. The contributors are anthropologists from throughout the Americas. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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