Visualising skyscapes : material forms of cultural engagement with the heavens / edited by Liz Henty and Daniel Brown.

"Above the land and its horizon lies the celestial sphere, that great dome of the sky which governs light and darkness, critical to life itself, yet its influence is often neglected in the archaeological narrative. Visualising Skyscapes captures a growing interest in the emerging field of skyscape archaeology. This powerful and innovative book returns the sky to its rightful place as a central consideration in archaeological thought and can be regarded as a handbook for further research. Bookended by a foreword by archaeologist Gabriel Cooney and an afterword by astronomer Andrew Newsam, its contents have a wide-reaching relevance for the fields of archaeology, anthropology, ethnography, archaeoastronomy, astronomy, heritage and cultural studies. The volume balances six chapters on theory and methodology which elaborate on the history and practice of the field with six other chapters focused on case studies from around the world. As such it captures the growing interest in the multidisciplinary study of skyscapes and will be of interest to academics, students and the general public, as well as having international appeal. It is topical, timely and relevant to current debates and will hopefully stimulate further interest in this exciting and relatively new area of investigation. The contributions showcase the work of distinguished academics in the field and the chapters are all enhanced by colour photographs and images"-- Provided by publisher.

Foreword: Facing the sky / Professor Gabriel Cooney -- Skyscape archaeology : the place of the sky in the academy / Liz Henty -- Visualising skyscapes : GIS-based 3D modelling and astronomical simulation / Georg Zotti -- On measurement, uncertainty and maximum likelihood in skyscape archaeology / Fabio Silva -- The dark sky character of archaeological landscapes : cultural meaning and conservation strategies / Frank Prendergast -- The phenomenology of star phases and their role in considering skyscapes / Bernadette Brady -- Toads turning time : verifying visualisations of the sanctuary (Avebury, Wiltshire) by inter-disciplinary method / Lionel Sims -- Linsmeau early Bronze Age structure showing a possible astronomical intent / Frédéric Heller, Frédéric Broes and Georg Zotti -- Time pursued by a bear : Ursa Major and stellar time-telling in the Paduan Salone / Darrelyn Gunzburg -- Visualisation of the sky in traditional cultures of Eurasia and its ancient representations / Emília Pásztor -- The square kilometre array art exhibition / Jarita Holbrook -- A brief account of three millennia of Chinese preoccupation with the skyscape / David W. Pankenier -- The science of seeing skyscapes, a photographic documentary of watching / Deborah Harty, Daniel Brown, Amanda Reyes Asturias, Kieran Simcox, Phillip Johnson.

OCLC-licensed vendor bibliographic record.