A groundbreaking analysis of the relationship between culture and technology.

The lands between Mesoamerica and the Central Andes are famed for the rich diversity of ancient cultures that inhabited them. Throughout this vast region, from about AD 700 until the sixteenth-century Spanish invasion, a rich and varied tradition of goldworking was practiced. The amount of gold produced and worn by native inhabitants was so great that Columbus dubbed the last New World shores he sailed as Costa Rica—the "Rich Coast." Despite the long-recognized importance of the region in its contribution to Pre-Columbian culture, very few books are readily available, especially in English, on these lands of gold. Gold and Power in Ancient Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia now fills that gap with eleven articles by leading scholars in the field. Issues of culture change, the nature of chiefdom societies, long-distance trade and transport, ideologies of value, and the technologies of goldworking are covered in these essays as are the role of metals as expressions and materializations of spiritual, political, and economic power. These topics are accompanied by new information on the role of stone statuary and lapidary work, craft and trade specialization, and many more topics, including a reevaluation of the concept of the "Intermediate Area." Collectively, the volume provides a new perspective on the prehistory of these lands and includes articles by Latin American scholars whose writings have rarely been published in English.

Until recently, little archaeological investigation has been dedicated to the Inka, the last great culture in Andean South America before the 16th-century arrival of the Spaniards. Using both theoretical and methodological approaches, scholars of the sciences, social sciences, and humanities provide a new understanding of Inka culture and history.

"Diverse environments, from low-lying marshlands to naturally terraced hillsides to rugged mountains of pine and oak forest, afforded many opportunities for well-being to the inhabitants of what are now the modern Mexican states of Colima, Jalisco, and Nayarit. In the seven-hundred-year period between 300 B.C. and A.D. 400, local hierarchies flourished, power was concentrated in increasingly fewer hands, and the wealthier members of the communities established family lineages that remained intact for many generations." "The compelling importance of place and family is reflected in the size, locations, and contents of the major tombs of that period; often situated near or under dwellings, these were deeply buried shaft-and-chamber tombs. One set of conjoined tombs, excavated in 1993 at the site of Huitzilapa in the Magdalena basin of northern Jalisco, held six personages, five of whom were close family relatives. Well over one hundred ceramic works accompanied the interred, together with conch-shell trumpets, tens of thousands of shell beads, and objects of jade, obsidian, and quartz, testifying to the family's wealth. Many of the ceramic objects were vessels and bowls for food and drink, but there were large, three-dimensional human figures as well, among them one depicting a ballplayer." "The focus of Heritage of Power: Ancient Sculpture from West Mexico. The Andrall E. Pearson Family Collection consists of over forty of these artistically appealing figures, which represent all three of the major styles - and sub-styles - that make up the body of West Mexican ceramic sculpture, named for the states of Colima, Jalisco, and Nayarit." "Included are an introductory illustrated essay, catalogue entries that discuss each of the works in detail - all of them shown in color and, often, in multiple views - and a selected bibliography."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Presenting the latest in archaeometallurgical research in a Mesoamerican context, Archaeometallurgy in Mesoamerica brings together up-to-date research from the most notable scholars in the field. These contributors analyze data from a variety of sites, examining current approaches to the study of archaeometallurgy in the region as well as new perspectives on the significance metallurgy and metal objects had in the lives of its ancient peoples. The chapters are organized following the cyclical nature of metals--beginning with extracting and mining ore, moving to smelting and casting of finished objects, and ending with recycling and deterioration back to the original state once the object is no longer in use. Data obtained from archaeological investigations, ethnohistoric sources, ethnographic studies, along with materials science analyses, are brought to bear on questions related to the integration of metallurgy into local and regional economies, the sacred connotations of copper objects, metallurgy as specialized crafting, and the nature of mining, alloy technology, and metal fabrication.

"Worship, Warfare and Intercession before the Throne of God" was born from the foundry of over twenty-three years ministry of prophetic intercession for the nations. Bob travelled with prophetic intercessors to China and Japan in the Far East, and to many nations on the continents of Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, Canada and Australasia. In 2010, in a vision, Bob was caught up into heaven, where the Lord gave him a glimpse of the worship, warfare and intercession before the throne of God. Later, God told him to write the book. "Worship, Warfare and Intercession before the Throne of God" is that book. This book teaches us how we can pattern our worship according to the worship in heaven. It calls us to join with heaven, in intercession and warfare, for the return of the Lord and the setting up of His kingdom on the earth. Events are unfolding at a rapid speed, and the church, the true bride, must get herself ready. Heaven waits to hear her voice, as one sound with heaven. This book has two parts. Part I describes the worship that Bob experienced in heaven. Bob teaches about the seven aspects of worship in heaven, and how they are key ingredients for our worship in the last days on the earth. He has teamed with Jill Shannon (see www.coffeetalkswithmessiah.com) who produced a worship CD which puts the teachings into a practical manner. This CD is really awesome. Part II of the book is about intercession in heaven. As each seal of the scroll is broken in heaven by the Lamb, the book explodes with the reality of the intercessions in the book of Revelation. These intercessions born out of worship, move events towards a definite purpose: The restoration and renewal of the earth for the return of King Jesus. Heaven invites earth to join in this ONE SOUND of worship, warfare and intercession. The final chapter of the book offers practical suggestions how to use the book and CD for worship and intercession for small groups and larger groups.

This is a comprehensive reading of Shelley's oeuvre through the lens of developments in literary and psychoanalytic theory. The author provides though-provoking readings of well-known works and also explores less familiar pieces.