Culture through Objects: Ancient Near Eastern Studies in Honour of P. R. S. Moorey (Griffith Institute Publications)

Published in honour of P. R. S. Moorey, one of the foremost Near Eastern scholars of his generation, this book brings together nineteen studies on the archaeology of the ancient Near East. The volume focuses on three main themes that have been central to Moorey's extensive contributions to the field: tracking cultural transfers, understanding images, and the study of ancient materials and manufacture. Ranging widely in time and space from Egypt to Central Asia and from the Neolithic to the Sasanian period, the studies are linked by their shared methodology, namely a commitment to the crucial role played by objects in the reconstruction of past cultures and the recognition of the importance of contextual analysis in evaluating the material evidence. Topics include: the origins of pharaonic iconography, the spread of writing, stone vessels, prehistoric figurines, the iconography of seals, early metallurgy, ancient cuisine and the use of works of art in ancient societies.