The book, first published in 2005, offers insights into its subject matter under the Routledge imprint of Taylor & Francis. It is designed to cater to readers interested in in-depth analysis and exploration of the themes presented, making it a valuable resource for both academic and general audiences.
Exploring archaeological examples from various cultures and eras, this book redefines the concepts of 'religion' and 'ritual.' It offers insights into the theory and methodology behind the archaeology of religion, making it an essential resource for understanding how these practices have evolved and been interpreted throughout history.
Focusing on the intersection of religion and archaeology, this groundbreaking text examines how archaeological findings enhance the understanding of world religions. It delves into the contributions that archaeological research can offer to religious studies, highlighting the significance of material culture in interpreting spiritual beliefs and practices across different cultures.
"The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology of Ritual and Religion provides a comprehensive overview by period and region of the relevant archaeological material in relation to theory, methodology, definition, and practice. Although, as the title indicates, the focus is upon archaeological investigations of ritual and religion, by necessity ideas and evidence from other disciplines are also included, among them anthropology, ethnography, religious studies, and history. The Handbook covers a global span-Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, and the Americas-and reaches from the earliest prehistory (the Lower and Middle Paeleolithic) to modern times. In addition, chapters focus upon relevant themes, ranging from landscape to death, from taboo to water, from gender to rites of passage, from ritual to fasting and feasting. Written by over sixty specialists, renowned in their respective fields, the Handbook presents the very best in current scholarship, and will serve both as a comprehensive introduction to its subject and as a stimulus to further research"-- Provided by publisher
Focusing on archaeological findings from Bahrain, this book delves into the sixth to thirteenth centuries AD, exploring technologies like pearl diving and pottery making, alongside practices like animal husbandry and butchery. It highlights the significance of trade and commerce in shaping the intricate history of the Persian Gulf region, while also examining the influence of religious and cultural identities on the area's development.
This volume presents the findings from extensive fieldwork in the Tong Hills of Northern Ghana, home to the Talensi ethno-linguistic group. While the area gained anthropological fame through Meyer Fortes, its archaeology and material culture had been largely overlooked until this research. The authors conducted thorough archaeological surveys and excavations, complemented by ethnoarchaeological and ethnobotanical studies focusing on shrines, sacrifice, and indigenous medicine. The data collected is meticulously described, and a settlement chronology for the region is reconstructed. The findings include geological, organic geochemical, petrographic, and archaeometallurgical analyses. The study evaluates the function of shrines and the concept of ‘shrine,’ while also examining indigenous medicinal practices, their connections to shrines, and their archaeological implications based on the gathered empirical material. Additionally, the relationship between ritual, performance, and the archaeological record is explored, challenging the notion of ‘timelessness’ in previous anthropological narratives. The Tong Hills are contextualized within the broader history and archaeology of the region, making this work valuable for those interested in African indigenous religions, ritual practices, West African history, and the intersection of archaeology and anthropology.