Myths, Religion, Cult, and Magic
Archaeologists, like all of us, are intrigued by glimpses of magic, religion, and the cult that are seen in our collective past. Here are a few examples of archaeological evidence for cult behaviors.
Archaeology of Death: Encounter with a Dowser
It was a wickedly cold day, the day I stood next to the landowner, a short, blunt woman in her 60s, and her tall narrow son, a physicist at the university, and watched the dowser at work.
It was a wickedly cold day, the day I stood next to the landowner, a short, blunt woman in her 60s, and her tall narrow son, a physicist at the university, and watched the dowser at work.
Atlantis
Atlantis is a fictional kingdom described by Plato in two of his dialogues, Timaeus and Critias.
Atlantis is a fictional kingdom described by Plato in two of his dialogues, Timaeus and Critias.
Cannibalism
One of the early and rare practices of human beings, cannibalism involves a range of behaviors in which one human consumes another or parts of another, for dietary or ritual purposes.
One of the early and rare practices of human beings, cannibalism involves a range of behaviors in which one human consumes another or parts of another, for dietary or ritual purposes.
Cardiff Giant (USA)
The Cardiff Giant was a famous nineteenth century hoax, which paid off handsomely to its perpetrators.
The Cardiff Giant was a famous nineteenth century hoax, which paid off handsomely to its perpetrators.
Daoism - Taoism
Daoism is a belief system that arose in China during the Han dynasty, developing from the primitive shamanism of the Ba culture into a formal Daoist religion during the second century BC.
Daoism is a belief system that arose in China during the Han dynasty, developing from the primitive shamanism of the Ba culture into a formal Daoist religion during the second century BC.
Folk Magic in Britain
Brian Hoggard's PhD study (University College Worster) in the archaeological expression of magic in England between 1200-2000.
Brian Hoggard's PhD study (University College Worster) in the archaeological expression of magic in England between 1200-2000.
Jerusalem: the Disputed City
The archaeology and history of this ancient city of David reflects its present problems.
The archaeology and history of this ancient city of David reflects its present problems.
Lost Race Myth
The lost race or moundbuilder myth is one created by incoming European settlers of the North American continent who could not, or did not want to, believe that the mounds had been built by the Native American peoples they were displacing.
The lost race or moundbuilder myth is one created by incoming European settlers of the North American continent who could not, or did not want to, believe that the mounds had been built by the Native American peoples they were displacing.
Magic Bibliographies and Resources
From John-Gabriel Bodard's PhD dissertation on ancient Greek perceptions of magic.
From John-Gabriel Bodard's PhD dissertation on ancient Greek perceptions of magic.
Monastic Matrix
A scholarly page dedicated to the study of women's religious communities between 400 and 1600 AD.
A scholarly page dedicated to the study of women's religious communities between 400 and 1600 AD.
Oracle Bones
Oracle bones are a type of artifact found in archaeological sites from the Shang Dynasty in China.
Oracle bones are a type of artifact found in archaeological sites from the Shang Dynasty in China.
Piltdown Man
The perpetrators of the infamous Piltdown hoax of the early 20th century have never been satisfactorily identified.
The perpetrators of the infamous Piltdown hoax of the early 20th century have never been satisfactorily identified.
Pseudo-Archaeology
Pseudo-archaeology is one of the burdens the romance of archaeology has dealt the profession.
Pseudo-archaeology is one of the burdens the romance of archaeology has dealt the profession.
Religion in Archaeology
The study of religion in archaeology is not an easy matter, and not just in a political sense of the word.
The study of religion in archaeology is not an easy matter, and not just in a political sense of the word.
Second Temple Synagogues
From Donald Binder at Southern Methodist University, an online version of his PhD dissertation on early synagogues (pre-70 AD).
From Donald Binder at Southern Methodist University, an online version of his PhD dissertation on early synagogues (pre-70 AD).
Shamanism
Shamanism is the term given by anthropologists to the most basic and universal form of religion: the ritual specialist or shaman.
Shamanism is the term given by anthropologists to the most basic and universal form of religion: the ritual specialist or shaman.
TechnoPagans
An alternative megalithic site, exploring the Celtic religious and artistic elements of henges and related sites, what webmaven Cerridwen Connelly calls a Book of Shadows.
An alternative megalithic site, exploring the Celtic religious and artistic elements of henges and related sites, what webmaven Cerridwen Connelly calls a Book of Shadows.
Temples and Shrines
Basically, archaeologists think of the word temple as meaning one of three kinds of shrines.
Basically, archaeologists think of the word temple as meaning one of three kinds of shrines.
The Gottschall Rockshelter
Gottschall Rockshelter, a cave located in the upper Mississippi River watershed of southwestern Wisconsin, was a religious shrine to an ancestor cult, used in this manner beginning about 300 AD up until the early 19th century.
Gottschall Rockshelter, a cave located in the upper Mississippi River watershed of southwestern Wisconsin, was a religious shrine to an ancestor cult, used in this manner beginning about 300 AD up until the early 19th century.
Traditions in Magic in Late Antiquity
From Gideon Bohak of the University of Michigan's Classics Department, a very cool web site for this topic.
From Gideon Bohak of the University of Michigan's Classics Department, a very cool web site for this topic.
Virtual Mithraeum
A virtual visit to the 3rd century temple to the Roman god Mithras at Carrawburgh on Hadrians Wall; lots of other cool stuff about the cult of Mithras.
A virtual visit to the 3rd century temple to the Roman god Mithras at Carrawburgh on Hadrians Wall; lots of other cool stuff about the cult of Mithras.
Çatalhöyük: Urban Life in Neolithic Anatolia
On the yellow plains of central Anatolia lie the remains of one of the oldest civilizations on earth. Called Çatalhöyük, the site was occupied from about 6300-5500 bc, and its most striking and famous feature are the shrines, shrines dedicated to what has been called the "Mother Goddess."
On the yellow plains of central Anatolia lie the remains of one of the oldest civilizations on earth. Called Çatalhöyük, the site was occupied from about 6300-5500 bc, and its most striking and famous feature are the shrines, shrines dedicated to what has been called the "Mother Goddess."