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Neolithic

By Susan McCarter

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About the Book

This excellent introductory textbook describes and explains the origins of modern culture– the dawn of agriculture in the Neolithic area.

Written in an easy-to-read style, this lively and engaging book familiarises the reader with essential archaeological and genetic terms and concepts, explores the latest evidence from scientific analyses as varied as deep sea coring, pollen identification, radiometric dating and DNA research, condensing them into an up-to-date academic account, specifically written to be clear even the novice reader.

Focusing primarily on sites in southwest Asia, Neolithic addresses questions such as:

Lavishly illustrated with almost a hundred images, this enjoyable book is an ideal introduction both for students of archaeology and for general readers interested in our past.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to the Neolithic Box: Preservation at the Swiss Lake Villages 2. The Genetics of Domestication Box: Natural Selection and the Peppered Moth 3. Archaeological Evidence for Domestication Box: Evidence of Domestication at Abu Hureyra 4. Plant Domestication Box: The Domestication of Maize 5. Animal Domestication Box: Dogs and Cats 6. Architecture Box: Monumental Architecture 7. Pottery Box: Jomon Pottery 8. Diet and Disease Box: Ceramics and Cooking 9. Power and Prestige Box: War 10. Technology and Trade Box: Women's Work 11. Art and Religion Box: The Monumental Statues from 'Ain Ghazal' 12. What Caused the Neolithic Transition? Appendix I: A Note about Dates in the Book Appendix II: Geographical Place Names Appendix III: Sites Mentioned in the Text

About the Author(s)

Susan Foster McCarter holds a degree in Mediterranean prehistory from Brandeis University. For almost twenty years she has been a member of the Department of Near Eastern Studies at Johns Hopkins University. She also teaches art history and archaeology at York College of Pennsylvania.