The Archaeology of Measurement
Comprehending Heaven, Earth and Time in Ancient Societies

Explores the archaeological evidence for the development of measuring activities in numerous ancient societies and the implications of these discoveries.

Iain Morley (Edited by), Colin Renfrew (Edited by)

9780521119900, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 26 April 2010

284 pages, 130 b/w illus. 17 maps 19 tables
28.6 x 22 x 1.7 cm, 1.02 kg

"In summary, scholars and students of archaeology alike will welcome the comprehensive and balanced approach to such an ambitious topic of measurement." --Kiara Beaulieu, Journal Canadien D'Archeologie 36

The construction of formal measurement systems underlies the development of science, technology, economy and new ways of understanding and explaining the world. Human societies have developed such systems in different ways, in different places and at different times, and recent archaeological investigations highlight the importance of these activities for fundamental aspects of human life. Measurement systems have provided the structure for addressing key concerns of cosmological belief systems, as well as the means for articulating relationships between the human form, human action, and the world. The Archaeology of Measurement explores the archaeological evidence for the development of measuring activities in numerous ancient societies, as well as the implications of these discoveries for an understanding of their worlds and beliefs. Featuring contributions from a cast of internationally renowned scholars, it analyses the relationships between measurement, economy, architecture, symbolism, time, cosmology, ritual, and religion among prehistoric and early historic societies.

Introduction Colin Renfrew and Iain Morley
Part I. Number: Counting, Mathematics, and Measure: 1. Conceptualising quantification before settlement: activities and issues underlying the conception and use of measurement Iain Morley
2. Measurement in navigation: conceiving distance and time in the Neolithic Helen Farr
3. The token system of the ancient Near East: its role in counting, writing, the economy and cognition Denise Schmandt-Besserat
4. Grasping the concept of number: how did the sapient mind move beyond approximation? Lambros Malafouris
5. Numerical cognition and the development of 'zero' in Mesoamerica John Justeson
6. Recording measure(ment)s in the Inka Khipu Gary Urton
Part II. Materialising the Economy: 7. Measuring by weight in the late Bronze Age Aegean: the people behind the measuring tools Anna Michailidou
8. The concept of weighing during the Bronze Age in the Aegean, the Near East and Europe Lorenz Rahmstorf
9. Measuring the Harappan world: insights into the Indus order and cosmology J. Mark Kenoyer
Part III. Dimensions and Belief: 10. Architectural measurements in the Indus cities: the case study of Mohenjo-Daro Michael Jansen
11. Teothuacan City layout as a cosmogram: preliminary results of the 2007 measurement unit study Saburu Sugiyama
12. Aztec dimensions of holiness John Clark
13. Establishing direction in early Egyptian burials and monumental architecture: measurement and the spatial link with the 'other' Kate Spence
Part IV. Calendar and Cosmology: 14. The measurement of time and distance in the heavens above Mesopotamia, with brief reference made to other ancient astral sciences David Brown
15. Evolution of the calendar in Shang China Mark Lewis
16. The measure of time in Meso-America: from Teotihuacan to the Maya Anthony Aveni
17. Measuring time, sacred space, and social place in the Inca Empire Charles Stanish
18. Measuring time in the European Neolithic? The function and meaning of Central European circular enclosures Peter Biehl
Part V. The Spirituality of Measure: 19. The roots of spirituality and the limits of human mensuration F. LeRon Shults
20. Worldview, measurement and 'the roots of spirituality' Jeremy Begbie.

Subject Areas: Archaeology [HD], History [HB]