An Archaeology of ReligionArchaeologists have been increasingly turning their attention to the study of religion, but the field so far has lacked a cross-cultural overview. This text challenges archaeological conventions by refusing to respect the geographic and temporal boundaries with which archaeologists too often define their field. Worldwide in range and comparative in perspective, this exploration is guided by several fundamental questions: how do we recognize religion in the archaeological record? When should we recognize the first activities we call religious? What distinguishes a world religion? How can we see the formations of modern world religions in the archaeological record? An Archaeology of Religion begins with the first glimmers of what might be considered religious expression in the Paleolithic period and concludes with the complexities of world religions today. This book is an ambitious attempt to survey how scholars approach the identification of religious sites and practices in the archaeological record. |
Contents
Ch01 Introduction and Definitions | 1 |
Ch02 Grave Issues | 30 |
Ch03 Shamanism | 44 |
Ch04 Neolithic | 64 |
Ch05 Gods and Temples | 89 |
Ch06 Archaeology of Hinduism | 159 |
Ch07 Archaeology of Buddhism | 168 |
Ch08 Archaeology of Judaism | 182 |
Ch09 Archaeology of Christianity | 211 |
Ch10 Archaeology of Islam | 248 |
Ch11 Archaeology of Pilgrimage | 260 |
Ch12 Cults RegionalCults and World Religions | 272 |
References | 287 |
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Common terms and phrases
African altar ancestors ancient animal archaeological record architecture artifacts Asherah associated Author’s photo became belief Biblical bones Bronze Age Buddhism buildings buried Cahokia Çatal Huyuk cave cemeteries central century BC ceramic ceremonial Chaco Canyon Chapter Christian Church Archaeology circa clay complex contexts cross culture deities earliest early edited elite evidence excavated female Figure figurines focus Fogelin gods grave Greek Hinduism Historical Archaeology Holy human identified images Inca indicate interpretation Iron Age Islam Jewish Judaism kivas landscape later medieval Mesolithic Middle Paleolithic Mississippian modern monuments mosque motifs mound Neandertal Neolithic pagan Parker Pearson pattern period petroglyph pilgrimage pilgrims places Plan platform practices regional cults religious remains retainer burial ritual rock art Roman sacred sanctuary schematic scholars shamanism shrines social societies status stone structures stupa suggests symbol synagogue temenos temples tion tombs tradition Upper Paleolithic wall Wickliffe Mounds world religions worship Zapotec Zoroastrianism