Cult in Context: Reconsidering Ritual in Archaeology - Softcover

Malone, Caroline; Barrowclough, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1842179640 ISBN 13: 9781842179642

Publisher: Oxbow Books, 2010

Synopsis

Gods, deities, symbolism, deposition, cosmology and intentionality are all features of the study of early ritual and cult. Archaeology has great difficulties in providing satisfactory interpretation or recognition of these elusive but important parts of ancient society, and methodologies are often poorly equipped to explore the evidence. This collection of papers explores a wide range of prehistoric and early historic archaeological contexts from Britain, Europe and beyond, where monuments, architectural structures, megaliths, art, caves, ritual activity and symbolic remains offer exciting glimpses into ancient belief systems and cult behaviour. Different theoretical and practical approaches are demonstrated, offering both new directions and considered conclusions to the many problems of studying the archaeology of cult and ritual. Central to the volume is an exploration of early Malta and its intriguing Temple Culture, set in a broad perspective by the discussion and theoretical approaches presented in different geographical and chronological contexts.

About this title

About the Author

Caroline Malone is Emeritus Professor of Prehistory at Queen’s University Belfast. She has undertaken archaeological fieldwork in Malta, Italy and Scotland, and since her first post as Curator of the Alexander Keiller Museum at Avebury, she has maintained a keen interest in ritual monuments in Neolithic Britain and Ireland and written extensively on European prehistory.

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxbow Books
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1842179640
• ISBN 13: 9781842179642
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 368