—Marion Dowd, Institute of Technology, Sligo, Ireland, and author of The Archaeology of Darkness
—Mark Mehrer, Northern Illinois University
“This is a deliciously rare book. It opens new paths of thought in a way that is both down-to-earth and fun. . . . A book like this makes archaeology exciting again.”
—American Antiquity
"Archaeology of the Night is designed to question our preconceptions. The editors and contributors challenge us to think outside the realm of daylight and vision—to explore the darkness and expand our sensory encounter with the past."
—American Journal of Archaeology
"Excellent. . . this volume will draw interest from scholars and students as a pioneering work that is certain to motivate further studies."
—Antiquity
“A fascinating ‘pick and mix’ of topics highlighting the wide range of viewpoints that could be taken to ensure that nighttime activities, which take up half the lives of the people investigated by archaeologists, are given their full due.”
—Journal of Skyscrape Archeology
How did ancient peoples experience, view, and portray the night? What was it like to live in the past when total nocturnal darkness was the norm? Archaeology of the Night explores the archaeology, anthropology, mythology, iconography, and epigraphy of nocturnal practices and questions the dominant models of daily ancient life. A diverse team of experienced scholars uses a variety of methods and resources to reconstruct how ancient peoples navigated the night and what their associated daily—and nightly—practices were.
This collection challenges modern ideas and misconceptions regarding the night and what darkness and night symbolized in the ancient world, and it highlights the inherent research bias in favor of “daytime” archaeology. Numerous case studies from around the world (including Oman, Mesoamerica, Scandinavia, Rome, Great Zimbabwe, Indus Valley, Peru, and Cahokia) illuminate subversive, social, ritual, domestic, and work activities, such as witchcraft, ceremonies, feasting, sleeping, nocturnal agriculture, and much more. Were there artifacts particularly associated with the night? Authors investigate individuals and groups (both real and mythological) who share a special connection to nighttime life.
Reconsidering the archaeological record, Archaeology of the Night views sites, artifacts, features, and cultures from a unique perspective. This book is relevant to anthropologists and archaeologists and also to scholars of human geography, history, astronomy, sensory studies, human biology, folklore, and mythology.
Contributors: Susan Alt, Anthony F. Aveni, Jane Eva Baxter, Shadreck Chirikure, Minette Church, Jeremy D. Coltman, Margaret Conkey, Tom Dillehay, Christine C. Dixon, Zenobie Garrett, Nancy Gonlin, Kathryn Kamp, Erin Halstad McGuire, Abigail Joy Moffett, Jerry D. Moore, Smiti Nathan, April Nowell, Scott C. Smith, Glenn R. Storey, Meghan Strong, Cynthia Van Gilder, Alexei Vranich, John C. Whittaker, Rita Wright
Check out Nancy Gonlin's TEDx talk on the archaeology of the night:
"Ancient Maya Nights," Anthropology News
Archaeology after Dark, Alabama Archaeological Society
Nocturne