Stone Worlds

Reviews / Votes

Stone Worlds will become one of the defining texts for the phenomenological approach to prehistoric archaeology. It combines narrative, dialogue, diary entries and photo essays to present sometimes conflicting ideas about human engagement with the ancient landscape, and recent artists (Henry Moore, Andy Goldsworthy) who focus upon setting as central themes in their work. The authors conducted five seasons of fieldwork in Leskernick on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, setting out to reinterpret the landscape in its contemporary setting. They depart from a singular authoritative definition of the landscape, instead offering it to observers for their own interpretation. Covering stones in cling-film and painting them, as well as having a site poet, they present a vivid re-creation of the Neolithic and Bronze Age settlement and ritual sites of the moor. -Richard Lee, British Archaeology The directors explored the archaeologists' multifaceted perceptions of the excavation landscape. This ethnographic component is a noteworthy advance. An ethnography of archaeology can play a significant role in teasing out our experiences of landscapes and discerning how these experiences shape our understanding and exploration of archaeological sites. These innovations represent important steps towards a more full disclosure of field practice and relationships. In conclusion, this volume.represents a significant movement towards a more reflexive methodology in archeology. The complete review may be read online at: http://wings.buffalo.edu/ARD/cgi/showme.cgi?keycode=3237 http://wings.buffalo.edu/ARD/cgi/showme.cgi?keycode=3237 -Anna Boozer, Anthropology Review Database