Field Manual for the Archaeology of Ritual, Religion, and Magic - by C Riley Augé (Paperback)

About the Book

"By bringing together in one place specific objects, materials, and features indicating ritual, religious, or magical belief used by people around the world and through time, this tool will assist archaeologists in identifying evidence of belief-related behaviors and broadening their understanding of how those behaviors may also be seen through less obvious evidential lines. Instruction and templates for recording, typologizing, classifying, and analyzing ritual or magico-religious material culture are also provided to guide researchers in the survey, collection, and cataloging processes. The bulleted formatting and topical range make this a highly accessible work, while providing an incredible wealth of information in a single volume"--

Book Synopsis

By bringing together in one place specific objects, materials, and features indicating ritual, religious, or magical belief used by people around the world and through time, this tool will assist archaeologists in identifying evidence of belief-related behaviors and broadening their understanding of how those behaviors may also be seen through less obvious evidential lines. Instruction and templates for recording, typologizing, classifying, and analyzing ritual or magico-religious material culture are also provided to guide researchers in the survey, collection, and cataloging processes. The bulleted formatting and topical range make this a highly accessible work, while providing an incredible wealth of information in a single volume.

Review Quotes

"While Augé addresses her volume to archaeologists, it seems to me that it has value also for those involved more tangentially, such as researchers in material culture studies, epigraphers, historic site interpreters, and members of the general public with interests in the spiritual side of the material world." - American Journal of Archaeology

"This is a valuable contribution to a relatively recent shift towards the study of the material culture of ritual and magic. Ritual interpretations that were previously either avoided or resorted to by default are now being thoroughly engaged with, and this Field Manual offers an accessible, concise but comprehensive guide to tackling this fascinating subject in archaeological contexts." - Ceri Houlbrook, University of Hertfordshire

About the Author

C. Riley Augé holds an M.A. in Folklore and Mythology, and a PhD in Anthropology. Her specialized area of research is the archaeology of ritual, religion, and magic, particularly the material expressions of these beliefs. Auge' currently serves on the governor-appointed Montana State Historic Preservation Review Board to actively engage in state-wide efforts to preserve all aspects of the historical record.