Description
Book SynopsisCollected articles of the world's preeminent rock art researchers and cognitive archaeologists.
Trade ReviewThe ideas of David Lewis-Williams, director of the Rock Art Research Institute at the University of Witwatersrand, have had a profound impact on rock art studies in southern Africa, and more recently, on the interpretation of Upper Paleolithic art...The book brings together the development of Lewis-Williams's thoughts about rock art, published between 1972-1997...A Cosmos in Stone is a valuable source for students of rock art... -- Lawrence H. Robbins, Michigan State University * American Antiquity, Vol. 69, No. 1, 2004 *
Individuals with an interest in the extensive rock art found on the Northwest Coast should consider A Cosmos in Stone indispensable. -- Amanda Adams * The Midden *
This volume is a compilation of David Lewis-Williams’ seminal papers. Though his data are primarily the rock art of the San (bushmen) of southern Africa and the cave art of the European Paleolithic, this book equally is about archaeological method and especially theory. Even more, it represents an intellectual achievement of the greatest historical importance. In these papers Lewis-Williams bridges the longest-lived divide in our western intellectual tradition, the opposition between science, religion and art, showing how science is necessary to understand art and religion, and how any apprehension of human social life likewise must foreground the importance of religion and art. -- David S. Whitley, author, The Art of the Shaman; editor, Archaeology of Religion series
Table of ContentsPart 0 Foreword by David S. Whitley Part 2 Acknowledgments Chapter 3 Introduction Chapter 4 Chapter 1 Historical setting Chapter 5 Chapter 2 Man must measure Chapter 6 Chapter 3 Ethnography and iconography Chapter 7 Chapter 4 Mystery wrapped in myth Chapter 8 Chapter 5 Through the veil Chapter 9 Chapter 6 A dream of eland Chapter 10 Chapter 7 Seeing and construing Chapter 11 Chapter 8 Building bridges Chapter 12 Chapter 9 Harnessing the brain Chapter 13 Chapter 10 Agency, altered consciousness and wounded men Chapter 14 Chapter 11 The social production and consumption of rock art Part 15 References Part 16 Index Part 17 About the Author
