Central American and West Indian Archaeology
Being an Introduction to the Archaeology of the States of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and the West Indies

Published in 1916, this highly illustrated textbook summarises Central American and West Indian archaeology for non-specialists and future investigators.

Thomas Athol Joyce (Author)

9781108063753, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 26 September 2013

350 pages, 92 b/w illus. 1 colour illus. 2 maps
21.6 x 14 x 2 cm, 0.45 kg

An anthropologist and archaeologist working for much of his life at the British Museum, Thomas Athol Joyce (1878–1942) succeeded in making American archaeology more accessible to non-specialists. Through careful analysis and presentation of the available evidence from South and Central America, he secured his reputation as an authority in this field, especially with regard to Mayan civilisation. Drawing on his wide reading of the published literature, he produced three pioneering and highly illustrated textbooks. The present work appeared in 1916 and focuses on Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and the West Indies. The laws, religion, customs and daily life of the various indigenous peoples are discussed and compared, with thorough illustration and examination of a range of artefacts. Joyce intended his summary of the evidence to serve as 'a signpost for future investigators'. His South American Archaeology (1912) and Mexican Archaeology (1914) are also reissued in this series.

Preface
Part I. Southern Central America: Introduction
1. Nicaragua and N.E. Costa Rica
2. Nicaragua and N.E. Costa Rica (cont.)
3. Nicaragua and N.E. Costa Rica (cont.)
4. Central Costa Rica
5. Southern Costa Rica and Panama
6. Southern Costa Rica and Panama (cont.)
7. Southern Costa Rica and Panama (cont.)
Part II. The West Indies: Introduction
8. The West Indies: government, marriage and war
9. The West Indies: religion
10. The West Indies: amusements, burial, food and habitations
11. The West Indies: dress and manufactures
Appendix
Index.

Subject Areas: Archaeology by period / region [HDD]