The earliest contacts between the Aegean and the Indus were once thought to begin in the sixth ce... more The earliest contacts between the Aegean and the Indus were once thought to begin in the sixth century BCE, and yet there is now growing evidence of much earlier, indirect connections that extend into the third and fourth millennia BCE. There and Back Again evaluates the evidence for such contacts, particularly commodities such as tin and lapis lazuli, and discusses recently discovered objects, new methods of materials analysis techniques and topics, as well as iconographic investigation. Such studies clearly indicate the presence of indirect, or ‘trickle down’ contacts, where Mesopotamia functions as an intermediary between Africa and Europe in the west and Asia. In such a system, objects, iconography, and culture accumulate material and social value as they were exchanged through Mesopotamia and the Near East, to the Aegean and beyond. From the Early through Late Bronze Age, the Indus (and more broadly South Asia) remained critical to western regions for valuable, indispensable commodities destined for elites from Mesopotamia and other regions to the west. The volume’s case studies are complex and multifaceted, including but not limited to linguistics, iconography, paleobotany, archaeology, ancient disease and medicine, as well as scientific, materials, and technological analysis. As such, this collection of 11 papers constitutes the first of a series that seek to address a lingering lacuna in prehistoric studies: multi-disciplinary case-studies of Afro-Eurasian exchange.
This book evaluates the evidence for indirect connections between the Aegean and the Indus extending back to the third and fourth millennia BCE, particularly commodities such as tin and lapis lazuli, and discusses recently discovered objects, new methods of materials analysis techniques and topics, as well as iconographic investigation.
Imperial Horizons of the Silk Roads: Archaeological Case Studies
The main theme of this volume centres on how the exchange routes transformed the frontier regions... more The main theme of this volume centres on how the exchange routes transformed the frontier regions of the Silk Roads. In doing so, it utilises a range of methods expanded to reach an archaeological interpretation of the main ways that linked people with the environment. The expertise and knowledge needed to deliver an array of topics embedded in the Silk Roads environments are demonstrated in a series of case studies. Taken as a whole, the collection of papers provides an overview of current developments where multiple lines of evidence are employed at integrating and resolving different data sets. To provide consistency, the contributions address three key questions and are grouped accordingly into three related thematic sections: movements, settlements, and beliefs. Each contribution addresses an environmental or anthropological question connected with the trade and use cultural history interpretation in archaeological context to support a range of methods.
The first section centres on the question of trade networks and the migratory practices of the Silk Roads. The case studies illustrate the significance of the analyses, contextualisation, and (re)interpretation of art and objects with traditional and new methods.
The vastness of the land, the abundance of migratory opportunities with human mobility, and settlements are assessed implicitly or explicitly in the second section. The case studies focus on the question of commerce and civilian settlement formation and discuss human endeavours that transformed their landscape.
The case studies in the third part address the question of the dissemination of ritual and burial practices along the Silk Roads. The premise that a relationship exists between social, cultural, and religious is fundamental to many archaeological studies.
The case studies shed new light on several forms and levels of ancient connectivity of the Silk Roads and their lasting impact on our history that bind communities together and resonate even today. Because the Silk Roads connected a diversity of cultures, interdisciplinary collaboration is fundamental to reach the full research potential where single realms would omit the bigger picture of network connectivity. The overarching message is that contemporary archaeological efforts on the global scale are defining pivotal applications in reconstructing the ancient life along the Silk Roads. In this respect, it demonstrates how archaeological data can be integrated to deliver an exclusive viewpoint on a timeline of the Silk Roads.
A wide variety of animals inhabit Minoan art. Each type fulfill a specific role. Monkey sand apes... more A wide variety of animals inhabit Minoan art. Each type fulfill a specific role. Monkey sand apes function very differently from other creatures: sometimes they participate in rituals, sometimes they imitate humans and sometimes they simply behave as natural animals. This study explores these different roles. The discussion of their iconography is set within the broader context of Egyptian and Near eastern art and involves consideration of the use of "pattern books," or standardized images in Minoan wall paintings, figurines, and glyptic art. The analyses inform broader themes in Minoan art, religion, and cult practice. In addition, a substantial appendix surveys the range and nature of other terrestrial, aquatic, and mythical creatures.
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Books by Marie N Pareja
This book evaluates the evidence for indirect connections between the Aegean and the Indus extending back to the third and fourth millennia BCE, particularly commodities such as tin and lapis lazuli, and discusses recently discovered objects, new methods of materials analysis techniques and topics, as well as iconographic investigation.
The first section centres on the question of trade networks and the migratory practices of the Silk Roads. The case studies illustrate the significance of the analyses, contextualisation, and (re)interpretation of art and objects with traditional and new methods.
The vastness of the land, the abundance of migratory opportunities with human mobility, and settlements are assessed implicitly or explicitly in the second section. The case studies focus on the question of commerce and civilian settlement formation and discuss human endeavours that transformed their landscape.
The case studies in the third part address the question of the dissemination of ritual and burial practices along the Silk Roads. The premise that a relationship exists between social, cultural, and religious is fundamental to many archaeological studies.
The case studies shed new light on several forms and levels of ancient connectivity of the Silk Roads and their lasting impact on our history that bind communities together and resonate even today. Because the Silk Roads connected a diversity of cultures, interdisciplinary collaboration is fundamental to reach the full research potential where single realms would omit the bigger picture of network connectivity. The overarching message is that contemporary archaeological efforts on the global scale are defining pivotal applications in reconstructing the ancient life along the Silk Roads. In this respect, it demonstrates how archaeological data can be integrated to deliver an exclusive viewpoint on a timeline of the Silk Roads.