An Archaeology Of Ancash Stones Ruins And Communities In Andean Peru 1st Edition George Lau by George Lau 9780367872830, 9781138898998, 9781315708201, 0367872838, 1138898996, 1315708205 instant download after payment.

An Archaeology of Ancash is a well-illustrated synthesis of the archaeology of
north-central Peru and, specifically, the stone remains of the mountainous Ancash
region. All the major cultures of highland Ancash built impressive monuments,
with no other region of South America showing such an early and continuous
commitment to stone carving. Drawing on Lau’s extensive experience as an
archaeologist in highland Peru, this book reveals how ancient groups of the
Central Andes have used stone as both a physical and symbolic resource,
uncovering the variety of experiences and meanings which marked the region’s
special engagement with this material.
An abundant raw resource in the Andes, stone was used for monuments,temples, tombs and carved monoliths, which were crucial to the emergence of
civilisation in the region, and religious objects from magical charms to ancestor
effigies. Detailing the ways stone has played both an everyday and an extraor-
dinary part in ancient social life, Lau also examines how cultural dispositions
towards this fundamental material have changed over time and considers how
engagements, past and present, with these stone remains have the potential to
create and regenerate communities. With an ample selection of colour photos
which bring these sites and artefacts to life, An Archaeology of Ancash is an essen-
tial guide to the key monuments, places and objects that distinguish this region
and its rich archaeological heritage.