Archaeomineralogy [Hardcover]

George R. Rapp (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 5, 2002 | ISBN-10: 3540425799 | ISBN-13: 978-3540425793 | Edition: 1

This book presents a systematic look at the utilization of rock and mineral materials from prehistoric times through the 17th century ACE. The coverage is nearly world-wide and gives more than 800 references. Among the numerous illustrations are maps showing the location of major rock, mineral, and ore deposits, as well as photos and drawings of minerals, artifacts, statues, and large structures. Major portions of this book are based on 34 years of experience the author has doing geoarchaeology, archaeomineralogy, and archaeometallurgy in more than a dozen countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the reviews:

Praise for George R. Rapp's Archaeomineralogy

Geoscientist

"The text is crammed full of useful information, is well-balanced using both new and Old World examples of the archaeomaterials described. It also provides a broad, but of necessity, all too brief overview of the geological raw materials used in antiquity."

Mineralium Deposita

"The book provides much interesting discussion of how particular names came to be employed by archaeologists working in different regions of the world. Overall, I found that the book had much to offer for any geologist or archaeologist interested in minerals and rocks and how they have been used in the past."

The Holocene

"This is a gem of a book, it's strength is that it is encyclopedic in content, if not in layout, draws on a wealth of field experience and almost every sentence contains a nugget of information"

Geological Magazine

"The current volume aims to provide a systematic overview of minerals and rocks that have been used from prehistoric times though to the 17th Century. It is a very readable well-written overview of the subject. In addition to the extensive bibliography there is also a very useful glossary of mineralogical, geological and archaeological terms. Overall this is an excellent volume that should appeal equally to those with a geological or an archaeological background. Highly recommended."

"The scope of this book is ambitious. In it the author aims to cover the main mineral and rock materials used in antiquity from Prehistoric times to the 17th century AD … . the range of materials covered and the extensive bibliography of some 800 references provide the reader with a good starting point for further study. … It is really a book to be dipped into … . Overall, the book is well balanced using both New and Old World examples … ." (Louise Joyner, Geoscientist, Vol. 13 (9), 2003)

"This little book provides a wealth of information in an entertaining and readable fashion. The coverage is both very broad and complete … . I found the archaeological discussion very informative, and the excellent biography, with over 500 references, provide an immediate entry into the geoarchaeology literature on many different subjects! Overall, I found that the book had much to offer for any geologist or archaeologist interested in minerals and rocks and how they have been used in the past." (C. R. Stern, Mineralium Deposita, Vol. 38 (5), 2003)

"This is a gem of a book … . Its aim is to provide ‘a systematic look at the mineral and rock materials that have been used from prehistoric times through the seventeenth century ACE’ … . Moreover, it attempts to give world coverage … . this is a huge task. It is a great credit, therefore, to the scholarship, energy and experience of the author, that he has managed to achieve his aim … ." (A. M. Pollard, The Holocene, Vol. 13 (5), 2003)

"The current volume aims to provide a systematic overview of minerals and rocks that have been used from prehistoric times through to the 17th Century. … it is a very readable well-written overview of the subject. In addition to the extensive bibliography there is also a very useful glossary of mineralogical, geological and archaeological terms … . Overall this is an excellent volume that should appeal equally to those with a geological or an archaeological background. Highly recommended." (Allan Pring, Geological Magazine, Vol. 140 (3), 2003)

From the Back Cover

Archaeomineralogy provides a wealth of information for mineralogists, geologists and archaeologists involved in archaeometric stuides of our past. The first edition was very well recieved and praised for its systematic description of the rocks and minerals used througout the world by our ancestors and for its excellent list of over 500 references, providing easy access to the fields of archaeomineralogy and geoacrchaeology. This second edition of Archaeomineralogy takes an updated and expanded look at the human use of rocks and minerals from the Paleolithic through to the 18th century ACE. It retains the structure and main themes of the original edition but has been revised and expanded with more than 200 new references in the text, a bibliography of useful references not included in the text, a dozen new figures (drawings and photos), coverage of many additional important mineral, rock, and gem materials, increased geographic scope, particularly but not limited to Eastern Europe, and a more thorough review of early contributions to archaeomineralogy especially those of Agricola.   --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 337 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (August 5, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3540425799
• ISBN-13: 978-3540425793
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,779,111 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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