If any list member is interested in reviewing this book for the European Journal of Archaeology I should, with the assistance of Victor Vetrov, be able to organise a free review copy. Any further enquiries about this to me please.

Cornelius Holtorf
Reviews Editor, EJA

-----
Cornelius Holtorf
School of Humanities, Kalmar University *and*
Institutionen för arkeologi och antikens historia, Lunds universitet
http://web.comhem.se/cornelius

----- Original Message -----
From: Victor Vetrov <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 12:31 pm
Subject: ART AND RELIGION OF ANCIENT SOCIETIES

> 
> 
> The collection of scientific works "ART AND RELIGION OF ANCIENT 
> SOCIETIES" is issued in Lugansk (Ukraine) in 2007 (format ?4, soft 
> binding, 224 pages, ISBN 978-966-534-239-8).
> 
> The articles of the collection are written on Russian (RUS), 
> Ukrainian (UKR), English (ENG) languages. 
> 
> 
> The collection "Art and Religion of Ancient Societies" is a 
> continuation of the series of the scientific publications which is 
> devoted to the problems of study of the spiritual culture in the 
> primitive societies. The previous edition "Art and Ritual of Ice 
> Age", that was published in 2005, covered a circle of questions 
> directly connected with the theory and practice of study of the 
> Paleolithic Art. In this collection we also address to the same 
> problematic. However, taking into account that the understanding 
> of the most ancient culture stages of the human society is 
> connected to a wide circle of questions of the study of the 
> traditional communities, we think it is necessity to expand the 
> edition’s subjects. Therefore we have tried to capture not only 
> questions directly connected with field and basic study of the 
> ancient art, but also practical analysis of the cultural and 
> ethnographic facts. The questions of the aesthetics and theory of 
> development of the early forms of art are considered as separately 
> subjects in works. The published materials enable the reader to 
> familiarize with the questions and methods of their analysis more 
> in details, which are submitted in works of the researchers from 
> Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Germany, Canada, USA, Australia.
> The collection consists of three thematic and bibliographic units.
> The section "Stone Age" begins by the clause A.I. Atoian 
> "Aesthetics of the Primitive World and the Primitive Life" (RUS). 
> In it the problems of understanding of phenomena of early 
> spiritual culture of the man are mentioned. This article describes 
> some aspects of the primitive world aesthetics in historical and 
> ethnographic groups. The primitive world or "the world of 
> primogenitors" is enough hard problems for the aesthetic theory 
> and practically it has not been given in a history of aesthetics. 
> The division of the most ancient culture’s history periods is 
> often defined by the material of instruments and technology of 
> their manufacturing that is the tradition in the archaeology, from 
> which it is difficult to argue for aesthetics or culturelogists. 
> But the history of culture includes both the development of the 
> material world, the mastering by an external nature, and also the 
> culture of society, mentation, all spectrums of human abilities, 
> including abilities to unification, conversation, mutual exchange 
> by the needs, interests, norms, artefacts, moods, orientations, 
> senses, intensions, ideas, values. Syncretism of the forms of 
> consciousness and articulation in the basic spheres of activity – 
> in opinion of the author – is a root of the aesthetic aspect’s 
> formation in the culture of the primitive man.
> In the clause V.S. Vetrov "The Late Paleolithic Art of Steppes in 
> the Northern Black Seaside and the Sea of Azov" (RUS) practically 
> the question about the allocation of this steppe region in 
> specific area of development of Paleolithic art is considered. 
> Using the archeological materials, the author characterizes the 
> basic groups of mobile art of this region, determining their 
> characteristic features.
> G.P. Grigoriev in the work “The Evolution in the Paleolithic art 
> (as it is represented after 1994)” (RUS) considers the questions 
> of the structuring and dynamics of the development of the 
> Paleolithic art. The author in details analyzes new West-European 
> materials from the cave art, discuses the questions of the 
> regional and chronological allocation of the Paleolithic art 
> inside Franco-Cantabric area.
> The publication I.V. Shmidt "Interpretation of Ural Cave 
> Paleolithic Paintings: the History, Reality, Prospects (a historic 
> graphical sketch)" (RUS) is devoted to the historical study of the 
> monumental art in Kapova and Ignateva caves. In details the 
> numerous hypotheses, which based on the analysis of semiotics and 
> stylistics of the paintings, are considered. The large attention 
> is given to questions of the scientific methods’ application.
> D.L. Brodianskiy in the work "The Myth World in Art of Far East 
> Neolithic Age" (RUS) analyzes the works of art from the excavation 
> of monuments Boysman II and bottom layer of the settlement Siniy 
> Gaiy A. The author comes to the conclusion that the sources of the 
> Far East Neolithic art lay in the Paleolithic art, which was 
> discovered but it was investigated extremely poorly in the 
> northwest of Pacific Ocean region. A lot of images of northern 
> myths are traced on the materials of the considered monuments’ art.
> The clause of N. Boroffka "Some Thoughts on Deposition-Habits in 
> the Pre-Metallic Periods of Europe" (ENG) is devoted to the review 
> and ordering of European deposition-habits in the Stone Age. The 
> large attention is given to the specificities of the meaning 
> "deposition" in a context of the cultural layer of settlements and 
> outside of it. The location conditions and interpretation features 
> of the depositions are considered, too. In conclusion, it is the 
> author's opinion that a large part of the discussed depositions 
> should be interpreted as remains of rituals.
> In the work V.V. Tsybry and V.S. Vetrov "The Ornamental Products 
> from the Bone and Stone at the Neolithic Site Razdorskaya-2 on 
> Bottom Don (by materials of the researches in 1989-2003)" (RUS) 
> the part of the most interesting materials from this Neolithic 
> monument is published. Low topographical position of site 
> according to the level of Don River and the high degree of 
> dampness in the cultural layer have ensured unique safety of tens 
> ornamental products from the bone for the steppe zone. This work 
> includes only part of the received materials, however it is 
> possible to assume, that after the complete ending of the 
> researches in Razdorskaya-2 site, the collection of ornamental 
> products of this monument becomes the bright phenomenon in study 
> of spiritual culture of the Neolithic tribes in East Europe.
> The section "Bronze Age" begins by clause the E.N. Borovitskaya 
> "The Problematic of the Social-Pragmatically Approach in the 
> Analysis of the Symbol System (by the examples of the analysis of 
> the ancient tribes of Zrubna generality)" (UKR). The author stops 
> on the separate historical study of the symbols of Zrubna cultural-
> historical generality. The theoretical arguments confirm the use 
> of the social-pragmatically method, as a component of the 
> generalized semiotics analysis.
> The publication A.I. Vasilenko, T.V. Blum, V.S. Vetrov "About the 
> Ancient Stone Steles near Parhomenko Village in Krasnodon Area, 
> Lugansk Region" (RUS) is devoted to a find of two unique steles 
> concerning, in opinion of the authors, to the middle bronze age. 
> Analyzing sculptured figures in details and taking into account 
> the stylistics of their form, ornamental compositions the authors 
> bring multiplane comparisons in wide spectrum materials of that 
> period (stone steles, stone boxes, and ornament of the ceramics 
> and battle axes). The most probable these sculptured figures are 
> connected with activity of Catacomb culture. The specificity study 
> of concentration of the cult goods allows supposing that in this 
> area there is a sanctuary or another ritual complex.
> The work I.I. Dremov “About the Religious Representations of Lower 
> Volga Population in the Bronze Age” (RUS) is devoted to 
> specificity study of the burial ritual and opportunities of 
> reconstruction of religious and ideological representations in the 
> society during the Bronze Age at the different stages of their 
> development. The rites in the societies of the Pit-Grave, Catacomb 
> and Zrubna cultures are given in multiplane comparison.
> The publication B.A. Zhelezniakov “About the Cults of Asi Plateau 
> Sanctuary in Semirechye Region (the South-Eastern Kazakhstan)” 
> (RUS) is devoted to a find of the petroglyphs at the top part of 
> Asi Plateau, which is situated in the eastern part of the 
> Zailiysky Alatau Mountains (Northern Tien-Shan). The relatively 
> compact accumulation of pertoglyphs is determined as the middle 
> dimensions sanctuary, dating the Late Bronze Age and the 
> transitional period of the Early Iron Age. Next to the sanctuary 
> there are large separate dwellings with cultural levels which were 
> belonged to the Bronze and Early Iron Ages and also cemeteries of 
> the same periods and big megalithic structures are situated.
> About the start of the field study of a phenomenal cult complex, 
> which is located at the territory of Lugansk region, it is told 
> the work V.I. Klochko "The Marl Ridge" (UKR). The general area of 
> the stone objects, revealed to the present moment, (walls and 
> platforms are built from large limestone blocks) occupies 1.3 
> square km. The research of the burial mounds and sacrificial 
> altars was made on the platform. The beginning of the functioning 
> of this complex was determined by the Late Eneolithic Age - the 
> Early Bronze Age.
> In the archaeological literature the opinion, that the ornaments, 
> bronze bracelets and pins, are elements of female furniture, was 
> ratified. In some cases this view replaces the anthropological 
> definitions. S.D. Lysenko, S.S. Lysenko in the clause "About 
> Possible Functional Use of some Bracelets and Pins in the Late 
> Bronze Age" (RUS) think that there are no bases to consider the 
> presence of ornaments in the interment as an attribute of the 
> female grave. Faster in opinion of the authors it can speak about 
> poly-functional use so-called "ornaments".
> In the publication V.V. Otroshchenko "Anthropomorphic Images in 
> Art and Symbol System of Zrubna Culture" (UKR) are considered 
> steles, connected with complexes of Zrubna culture, and also the 
> same models of steles from clay and bones. There is analyze of the 
> man’s images concerning to the complexes of Zrubna culture. In 
> opinion of the author, the elements of the epos are caught in the 
> schematic men’s images of that time.
> The clause A.Y. Shchetenko “About the Problem of Interpretation 
> Buried Treasure of Cult Things from Daimabad (Central India)” 
> (RUS) is devoted to the unique find; it’s the Eneolithic buried 
> treasure of brazen things. The treasure consists from the chariot, 
> which is harnessed in pair of bulls - zebu and is controlled by 
> charioteer, and three figurines: a bull, an elephant, a rhino. In 
> this clause the attempt of the interpretation of the charioteer’s 
> figurine, as one of the solar gods Rig-Veda Pushan is made on the 
> basis of the study of the images’ iconography of the Kharapp 
> signets, the products of the fine callisthenics (in terracotta and 
> metal) and with attraction of the anthropoid characteristics of 
> this god in Rig-Veda and Purans. The research is accompanied by 
> brief digression in the history of the religion and art of the 
> ancient and classical India before Mahabharata and Ramayana epoch. 
> For a dating of products from the buried treasure the materials of 
> the Post-Kharapp cultures in Hindustan are attracted, their 
> chronology is corrected by a representative series 14? of dates. 
> According to the scheme which was developed by B.B. Lalom, the 
> author of the clause thinks that the buried treasure had been 
> manufacturing during the Veda-Brahman period of the written 
> sources, it correlates with the dates of the Post-Kharapp cultures 
> in the Central India, where this buried treasure was found. The 
> time when the buried treasure was dug there needs additional 
> researches.The section "Ethnohistorical Researches" opens by the 
> publication M.S. Sergeeva “Reptile as a Component of the Composite 
> Personages in Pre-Columbian Art of Central America” (RUS), in 
> which is analyzed one of the main characteristics of the composite 
> personages that figure in the Pre-Columbian art of two 
> neighbouring regions, these are Pacific Coast of Costa Rica and 
> Panama and Central Panama. Two schemes of the composites’ creation 
> are distinguished by the author: personages with separate features 
> of different beings, which are alloyed in the whole one 
> (zoomorphic composites, anthropozoomorphs with human body and 
> animal's head) and personages of different types with additional 
> fantastic elements in the form of independent living beings. Both 
> schemes are often combined in one personage.
> In the article M.R. Oberndorf “The Painted Ladies Site: A Female 
> Fertility Rock Art Site in the Southwestern the U.S.A.” (ENG) the 
> author writes that while a fairly large amount of descriptive work 
> has been done in regard to Basketmaker and Anasazi rock art in the 
> American Southwest, little has been done in the way of 
> interpretation. Following the lead of researchers such as J. Davis 
> Lewis-Williams, in southern Africa, and David S. Whitley in 
> California, who have turned to ethnography and myth as tools for 
> the interpretation of rock art, the Painted Ladies Site in 
> southeastern Utah is used as a model for the interpretation of 
> certain Basketmaker figures and groups. A class of figure was 
> identified as female, based on the direct association of one with 
> a figure that is clearly male. The conclusion is that the site 
> illustrates what may be ancestral Zuni female fertility and/or 
> puberty rites, indicated by what appear to be depictions of group 
> rituals and identifiable, important female mythic figures. These 
> rites were probably conducted by shamans, some of whom were women. 
> It is probable too, that at least some of the art at the site was 
> painted by women.
> The section “The Reviews and Bibliography” (RUS) consists of the 
> reviews G.P. Grigoriev on the book R. White “Prehistoric Art. The 
> Symbolic Journey of Human Kind”, A.I. Atoian on the book Jean-Lo?c 
> Le Quellec «Rock Art in Africa. Mythology and Legend», author's 
> announcements J. Clegg and T. Heyd "Aesthetics and Rock Art" and 
> V.S. Vetrov "Art and Ritual of Ice Age".
> Thus, the collection of scientific works "Art and Religion of 
> Ancient Societies" is devoted to a wide spectrum of spiritual life 
> ancient societies in Europe, Asia, America also gives the reader 
> an opportunity to acquaint with the materials of the newest field 
> and theoretical researches in this area.
> 
> 
> 
> On the questions of the buying address Victor Vetrov       
> [log in to unmask]
> 
> 
> Victor Vetrov
> The chief of archeological studio
> of the Centre of Children's and Youths' Creativity. 
> 91051
> Ukraine 
> Lugansk
> Ykira Block, 6-?.
> Tel. (0642) 61-49-22.
> [log in to unmask]
> http://lep.lg.ua/~vet
>