(Ebook) An Archaeology of Ancash : Stones, Ruins and Communities in Andean Peru by George Lau ISBN 9780367872830, 9781138898998, 9781315708201, 0367872838, 1138898996, 1315708205

(Ebook) An Archaeology of Ancash : Stones, Ruins and Communities in Andean Peru by George Lau ISBN 9780367872830, 9781138898998, 9781315708201, 0367872838, 1138898996, 1315708205

An Archaeology of Ancash is a well-illustrated synthesis of the archaeology ofnorth-central Peru and, specifically, the stone remains of the mountainous Ancashregion. All the major cultures of highland Ancash built impressive monuments,with no other region of South America showing such an early and continuouscommitment to stone carving. Drawing on Lau’s extensive experience as anarchaeologist in highland Peru, this book reveals how ancient groups of theCentral Andes have used stone as both a physical and symbolic resource,uncovering the variety of experiences and meanings which marked the region’sspecial engagement with this material.An abundant raw resource in the Andes, stone was used for monuments,temples, tombs and carved monoliths, which were crucial to the emergence ofcivilisation in the region, and religious objects from magical charms to ancestoreffigies. Detailing the ways stone has played both an everyday and an extraor-dinary part in ancient social life, Lau also examines how cultural dispositionstowards this fundamental material have changed over time and considers howengagements, past and present, with these stone remains have the potential tocreate and regenerate communities. With an ample selection of colour photoswhich bring these sites and artefacts to life, An Archaeology of Ancash is an essen-tial guide to the key monuments, places and objects that distinguish this regionand its rich archaeological heritage.