The materiality of stone : explorations in landscape phenomenology: 1

This book investigates the sensuous material qualities of stone--from golden honeycombed limestone, to frozen waves of Cambrian sandstone. Tactile sensations, sonorous qualities, color, and visual impressions are all shown to play a previously unrecognized yet vital part in understanding the power of prehistoric monuments, from Neolithic temples to Bronze Age rock carvings, in relation to their landscapes. Tilley breaks new ground in interpreting human experience in a sensuous way, rather than through an abstract analytical gaze. He leaves no stone unturned as he also considers how spaces and settings are interpreted in relation to artifacts and places that were deeply meaningful to the people who inhabited them and remain no less evocative today. In its innovative approach to understanding human experience, The Materiality of Stone is a major contribution to the field of material culture studies and the study of prehistory. With Wayne Bennett From the silky wax qualities of the surfaces of some quartz menhirs to the wood-grain textures of others, to the golden honeycombed limestones of Malta, to the icy frozen waves of the Cambrian sandstone of south-east Sweden, this book investigates the sensuous material qualities of stone. Tactile sensations, sonorous qualities, colour, and visual impressions are all shown to play a vital part in our understanding of the power and significance of prehistoric monuments in relation to their landscapes. In The Materiality of Stone, Christopher Tilley presents a radically new way of analyzing the significance of both'cultural'and'natural'stone in prehistoric European landscapes. Tilley's groundbreaking approach is to interpret human experience in a multidimensional and sensuous human way, rather than through an abstract analytical gaze. The studies range widely from the menhirs of prehistoric Brittany to Maltese Neolithic temples to Bronze Age rock carvings and cairns in southern Sweden. Tilley leaves no stone unturned as he also considers how the internal spaces and landscape settings are interpreted in relation to artifacts, substances, and related places that were deeply meaningful to the people who inhabited them and remain no less evocative today. In its innovative approach to understanding human experience through the tangible rocks and stone of our past, The Materiality of Stone is both a major theoretical and substantive contribution to the field of material culture studies and the study of European prehistory. With Wayne BennettFrom the silky wax qualities of the surfaces of some quartz menhirs to the woodgrain textures of others, to the golden honeycombed limestones of Malta, to the icy frozen waves of the Cambrian sandstone of southeast Sweden, this book investigates the sensuous material qualities of stone. Tactile sensations, sonorous qualities, colour, and visual impressions are all shown to play a vital part in our understanding of the power and significance of prehistoric monuments in relation to their landscapes. In The Materiality of Stone, Christopher Tilley presents a radically new way of analyzing the significance of both 'cultural' and 'natural' stone in prehistoric European landscapes. Tilley's groundbreaking approach is to interpret human experience in a multidimensional and sensuous human way, rather than through an abstract analytical gaze. The studies range widely from the menhirs of prehistoric Brittany to Maltese Neolithic temples to Bronze Age rock carvings and cairns in southern Sweden. Tilley leaves no stone unturned as he also considers how the internal spaces and landscape settings are interpreted in relation to artifacts, substances, and related places that were deeply meaningful to the people who inhabited them and remain no less evocative today.In its innovative approach to understanding human experience through the tangible rocks and stone of our past, The Materiality of Stone is both a major theoretical and substantive contribution to the field of material culture studies and the study of European prehistory. El libro investiga las cualidades materiales y sensuales de la piedra, desde la calidad sedosa de la superficie de algunos menhires de cuarzo a las texturas de otros, veteadas como la madera; desde las calizas doradas y laberínticas de Malta hasta las ondas heladas de las areniscas cámbricas del sureste de Suecia. Las sensaciones táctiles, las cualidades sonoras, el color y las impresiones visuales parecen jugar un papel de importancia vital en nuestra forma de entender el poder y el significado de los monumentos prehistóricos en relación con sus paisajes. Tilley analiza de una forma radicalmente nueva el significado de la piedra, tanto “cultural” como “natural”, en los paisajes prehistóricos europeos. Su propuesta innovadora consiste en interpretar la experiencia humana de una forma humana, multidimensional y sensual, más que a través de una mirada analítica y abstracta. Los estudios abarcan los menhires de la Bretaña prehistórica, los templos neolíticos de Malta, las esculturas y tallas de la Edad del Bronce en el sur de Suecia. Tilley no deja piedra sin remover, interpretando los espacios internos y los refugios del paisaje en relación con artefactos, sustancias y lugares que tenían un profundo significado para las personas que los habitaban y que actualmente conservan mucho de su poder evocador. Su forma de entender la experiencia humana a través de las rocas y las piedras del pasado supone una importante contribución al estudio de la cultura material y de la prehistoria europea Leaving No Stone Unturned, The Author Examines A New Way Of Analyzing The Significance Of Both 'cultural' And 'natural' Stone In Prehistoric European Landscapes. Tilley's Groundbreaking Approach Is To Interpret Human Experience In A Multidimensional Way,rather Than Through An Abstract Gaze. From Body To Place To Landscape : A Phenomenological Perspective -- Sprouting Rhizomes And Giant Axes : Experiencing Breton Menhirs -- From Honey To Ochre : Maltese Temples, Stones, Substances And The Structuring Of Experience -- Frozen Waves And Anomalous Stones : Rock Carvings And Cairns In A Southern Swedish Landscape -- Conclusions : The Past As Dreamwork. Christopher Tilley ; With The Assistance Of Wayne Bennett. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. 1859738923......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 List of Figures......Page 8 List of Tables......Page 12 Preface......Page 14 Acknowledgements......Page 16 1 From Body to Place to Landscape: A Phenomenological Perspective......Page 18 2 Sprouting Rhizomes and Giant Axes: Experiencing Breton Menhirs......Page 50 3 From Honey to Ochre: Maltese Temples, Stones, Substances and the Structuring of Experience......Page 104 4 Frozen Waves and Anomalous Stones: Rock Carvings and Cairns in a Southern Swedish Landscape......Page 164 5 Conclusions: The Past as Dreamwork......Page 234 References......Page 244 B......Page 254 D......Page 255 J......Page 256 M......Page 257 P......Page 258 S......Page 259 T......Page 260 Z......Page 261 ISBN-10: 1859738923 1859738923 1 Contents 6 List of Figures 8 List of Tables 12 Preface 14 Acknowledgements 16 1 From Body to Place to Landscape: A Phenomenological Perspective 18 2 Sprouting Rhizomes and Giant Axes: Experiencing Breton Menhirs 50 3 From Honey to Ochre: Maltese Temples, Stones, Substances and the Structuring of Experience 104 4 Frozen Waves and Anomalous Stones: Rock Carvings and Cairns in a Southern Swedish Landscape 164 5 Conclusions: The Past as Dreamwork 234 References 244 Index 254 A 254 B 254 C 255 D 255 E 256 F 256 G 256 H 256 I 256 J 256 K 257 L 257 M 257 N 258 O 258 P 258 Q 259 R 259 S 259 T 260 V 261 W 261 Z 261 In The Materiality of Stone, Christopher Tilley presents a radically new way of analyzing the significance of both 'cultural' and 'natural' stone in prehistoric European landscapes. Tilley's groundbreaking approach is to interpret human experience in a multidimensional and sensuous human way, rather than through an abstract analytical gaze. The studies range widely from the menhirs of prehistoric Brittany to Maltese Neolithic temples to Bronze Age rock carvings and c airns in southern Sweden Leaving no stone unturned, the author examines a new way of analyzing the significance of both 'cultural' and 'natural' stone in prehistoric European landscapes. Tilley's groundbreaking approach is to interpret human experience in a multidimensional way, rather than through an abstract gaze