The remains that archaeologists uncover reveal ancient minds at work as much as ancient hands, and for decades many have sought a better way of understanding those minds. This understanding is at the forefront of cognitive archaeology, a discipline that believes that a greater application of psychological theory to archaeology will further our understanding of the evolution of the human mind.

Bringing together a diverse range of experts including archaeologists, psychologists, anthropologists, biologists, psychiatrists, neuroscientists, historians, and philosophers, in one comprehensive volume, this accessible and illuminating book is an important resource for students and researchers exploring how the application of cognitive archaeology can significantly and meaningfully deepen their knowledge of early and ancient humans. This seminal volume opens the field of cognitive archaeology to scholars across the behavioral sciences.

About the Author

Tracy B. Henley is Professor and Head of Psychology at Texas A & M University-Commerce, USA. He works primarily on historical matters, social cognition, and psycholinguistics. He has several previous books related to the history of psychology.

Matt J. Rossano is Professor of Psychology at Southeastern Louisiana University, USA, where he studies the evolution of ritual, religion, and cooperation. His books include: Supernatural Selection: How Religion Evolved and Mortal Rituals.

Edward P. Kardas is Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Director of the Honors College at Southern Arkansas University, USA, where he has taught since 1980. He is the author of books on the Internet, research methods, and the history of psychology.

Reviews

"It is perhaps the strongest point of this volume that both authors and editors are conscious about the complexity and challenges that the study of Cognitive Archaeology involves. Instead of trying to mask these and give solutions that fit them all, or present this book as the definitive manual for a Cognitive Archaeology methodological approach, they discuss a wide variety of cognitive mechanisms and evolutionary and historical periods. From investigations based on, among others, primate behaviour, ethnography and even psychopathology, Handbook of Cognitive Archaeology involves research spanning from remote pre-Homo times to the first civilizations and modern hunter-gatherers societies. Overall, editors Henley, Rossano and Kardas indeed fulfil their objective, producing a brilliant example on what the much-needed cross-collaboration among academic disciplines can bring to research on human cognition and its evolutionary history." -Carmen Martin-Ramos, Institute of Archaeology, University College London and Earth Sciences Department, Natural History Museum, London, UK

See full review, published in the Archeological Review from Cambridge at https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.71842

Book Information
ISBN 9781138594517
Author Tracy B. Henley
Format Paperback
Page Count 546
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 907g