Chapter 10 Flashcards
cognitive archaeology aims to
understand the mental abilities of past humans
cognitive archaeology is archaeology of the
mind
cognitive archaeology is the study of
past ways inferred from material remains
what does cognitive archaeology have to be careful with
context of discovery
what matters more in cognitive archaeology
the assemblage over the object in isolation
what distinguishes humans from other life
the ability to use symbols
what ideas are based on symbols
- intelligent thought
- coherent speech
how are words symbols
sounds or written letters represent an aspect of the real world
the meaning applied to a symbol is
random
the meaning applied to a symbol is specific to
the cultural tradition
it is impossible to infer a symbol when
the image or object is alone
depictions and the artifact do not
show the direct meaning to us
what does the researcher have to do with a symbol
interpret it
cognitive map
the POV of the world that exists in the individual’s mind
what are the cognitive maps like for communities of people
often show the same world view
what are cognitive maps also known as
methodological individualism
what is useful for insight into the shared POV of a group
cognitive map
Images of _____ and ______ span the whole Upper Paleolithic
abstract animals and markings
upper Paleolithic art is from the ____ onwards
35 000 BCE
when does most cave art date
latter part of the Ice Age
techniques used in cave art
- finger tracing
- modelling in clay
- engravings
- bas-relief sculpture
- blow painting
what are most of the art
unintelligible
what are most of the figures in cave art
animals
what was NOT drawn on cave walls
objects
what was not often drawn on cave walls
human figures
parietal art
art on walls of caves and shelters or on large blocks of stone
first systematic approach to studying cave art
parietal art
what was the belief about parietal art
that the pictures formed a composition and not random accumulation
what animals made up 60% of the forms
horse and bison
where were horse and bison found in the caves
central panels
other species (like mammoths and deer) were found
on peripheral panels
less commonly drawn animals (bears and rhinos) were found
deep in the caves
all caves are
different
mobilitary art
portable art of the Ice Age made on engravings and carvings on small objects
what was the mobilitary art carved on
- stone
- bone
- antler
- ivory
majority of identifiable figures of mobilitary art were
animals
one of the most famous mobilitary art pieces
Venus of Willendorf
time factored compositions
made over a period of time rather than as a single operation
SEM can produce criteria for the
different marks made by the same tool
main way to tell time for Paleolithic
phases of the moon
Neanderthal Art
one of the most momentous developments
Neanderthals were often thought as
creatures without culture or aesthetic sense
what two methods connected art to Neanderthals
- dating the art to periods before Homo Sapiens arrived in Europe
- associating it with Neanderthal remains
what did Neadnerthrals do in caves
mysterious activities but seemed to be ritual like
meaning of symbols is the relationship
between symbols
six different uses of symbols
- establishment of place
- symbols of measurement
- instruments of planning
- regulate and organize relations between people
- human relations with the “other world”
- world through depiction
which of the six different uses fo symbols does this describe?
constructing a perceived landscape
establishment of place
which of the six different uses fo symbols does this describe?
units of time, length and height
symbols of measurement
which of the six different uses fo symbols does this describe?
helps organize our relationship with the natural world
symbols of measurement
which of the six different uses fo symbols does this describe?
defines our intentions clearly
instruments of planning
which of the six different uses fo symbols does this describe?
make models for some future action
Instruments of planning
which of the six different uses fo symbols does this describe?
some material objects have a higher value than others
regulate and organize human relations
which of the six different uses fo symbols does this describe?
money
organize and regulate human relations
which of the six different uses fo symbols does this describe?
leads to religion and cults
human relationship with the “other world”
which of the six different uses fo symbols does this describe?
art of representation
world through depiction
most direct insight into the cognitive map of an individual or society
world through depiction
examples of symbols for world through depiction
painting and sculpture
Examining the Neanderthals makes the examination of whether a burial
was deliberate or not harder
The cave of Atapuerca has yielded over 5500 human bones from at least
28 homo heidlebergensis
Atapuerca makes up about
90% of all pre-Neanderthal bones from Europe
what was found with the bodies in Atapuerca
all parts of the body were present
how would did 40% of the individuals die in the Atapuerca cave
17 to 21
what suggests the Atapuerca cave was not occupational
lack of herbivore bones and stone tools
Some finds suggest art did not start with modern humans but
stretches back as far as homo erectus
Berekhat Ram is
an art object
why is Berekhat Ram an art object
The occupants noticed the pebbles look like a human figure but made the choice to form a human body
fundamental aspect of a cognitive map
establishment of a significant place
what together makes up the landscape for the individual
home, land and pasture
the entire countryside will become a
complex constructed landscape
does landscape archaeology have a cognitive dimension?
YES
landscape has both a
social and spiritual meaning
Written words were direct symbols used to
describe the world
ancient literature provides insight into the
cognitive world of civilizations
written symbols are the most effective _____ made by humans
system
what four things can written symbols do
- describe the world
- communicate with and control people
- organize society as a whole
- pass on knowledge
literacy was often restricted to
certain members of society
what is paramount in helping to understand thought in literate societies
textual evidence
major elements of measuring as symbols
- time
- weight
- length
units of time needed a
system of notation
a unit of time’s system of notation would
related to the movement of heavenly bodies or clear astronomical observations
Mesoamerican and Andean civilizations determined the orientation of many major buildings with
astrological signs
Units of length use
Broadnet’s Criterion
Broadnet’s Criterion
Standard to be found from data without knowing what the unit actually is
The probability that a unit of length discovered is not just a product of chance
Broadnet’s Criterion
units of weight have been discovered by
objects of standard form that prove to be multiples of recurrent weight
example of unit of weight
Systems of coinage were graded based on weight along with material
the cognitive map in our head allows us to
plan what we are going to do before we do it
Rare to find archaeological remains of
planning
Difficult to demonstrate purposeful
planning
what is necessary to prove an idea of planning
some clear evidence that the construction was visualized at the beginning
examples of planning
- similarities between finished products were not done by accident
- Metal objects and careful thought for the desired shape in the wax before constructing it
3.The planning of a town layout
what is a complex structure
accounting system
symbols of value reflect
the controlled elements of the economy are conceptualized in shared cognitive map
Money represents the recognition that
we live in a world of commodities
Money and coinage is determined by a
central authority
Form of communication second only to writing
money
Religion can be defined as
Action of conduct indicating a belief in, reference for, and desire to please a divine ruling power
entails a framework of believe that relates to a supernatural power
religion
how is religion also a social institution
A group holding the same collective sentiments and collective ideas
religion helps regulate ______ and _____ of society
social and economic processes
a cult can be
embedded in everyday activity
the first step in identifying a cult
Identify it for what it is
what must NOT be done when identifying a cult
classifying as religious activity everything we don’t understand
Religious ritual involves the
performance of expressive acts of worship toward the deity
Earliest indication of cult practise
burial of objects of cult significance
More indicators that are found at a site
the stronger the inference that religion is involved
Four main components of religion/cult practise
a. Focus of attention
b. The boundary between this world and the next
c. Presence of deity
d. Participation and offering
what aspect of a cult does this describe?
Act of worship demands a heightened state of awareness or religious excitement
Focus of attention
what aspect of a cult does this describe?
Involves the use of a sacred location, architecture, light, smells and sounds
Focus of attention
what aspect of a cult does this describe?
a focus on the boundary area between this world and the “other world”
The boundary between this world and the next
what aspect of a cult does this describe?
Deity is most often symbolized by some material form or image (more than a simple symbol)
Presence of the deity
what aspect of a cult does this describe?
The deity must in some sense be present for effective ritual
Presence of the deity
what are some of the demands on the celebrant during rituals
- eating and drinking
- offerings of material things to the deity
Structure and equipment would employ
attention-focusing devices reflected in the architecture
Sacred areas likely to be rich in
repeated symbols
The ritual may involve both
conscious public display and hidden exclusive mysteries
Association with deity may be reflected in the use of
cult images or representation in abstract form
Ritualistic symbols will often relate
iconographically to deities worshiped
_____ symbols may be used to represent specific deities or power
animal
The case of religious ritual can be proved with the
explicit iconography in the symbols used
Offerings are usually
material goods of high value
Cenote
sacred to the Maya, since they provided the most important drinking water supply
Ritual takes place in a spot with
special and natural associations
The ritual may take place in a special
building separate for scared functions
The alphabet
emerged 2000 BCE in Egypt
Determinative
comes after or before the symbol to tell what that symbol means
how to read the Egypt symbols
the way the animal is facing
cuneiform
type of writing NOT a language
tokens and bullae in Mesopotamian show
proto-writing
first writing in Mesopotamia
accounting contract
debate between _____ and _____ for the first writing
Egypt and Mesopotamian
Apotropaic
drawing animal and ritually attaching the animal will cause the animal to die in real life
best Paleolithic ave
Lascaux
Parietal art is located in
extreme remote and dangerous locations
two types of mobiliary art
naturalistic and symbolic
upper Paleolithic is between
40 000 and 30 000 BP
what was a major turning point in Europe
Upper Paleolithic
