The Ancient Mind: Elements of Cognitive Archaeology

One of the most troubling problems in archaeology is to determine the manner and content of prehistoric thought. A fundamental challenge is to develop the theory, methodology and tools to understand human cognition. Cognitive archaeology as a subject is still in its infancy, and archaeologists are adopting a variety of approaches—literary, linguistic, and scientific. The contributors to The Ancient Mind develop a new direction in prehistoric cognitive research that is rooted in the scientific tradition and in an empirical methodology. Together, they begin to develop a science of cognitive archaeology.

"Collection of articles seeks to define a scientific approach to prehistoric cognition. In an important paper, Marcus and Flannery look at the evolution of Zapotec religion and ritual and the transformation of Monte Albâan and the Zapotec state"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 57.

This book develops a new direction in prehistoric cognitive research which is rooted in science and empirical methodology.