Description

The essays in this volume, which was originally published in 1983, present an innovative and unified approach to the archaeological analysis and interpretation of art and design. Together, they illustrate a variety of approaches to the discovery and systematic description of the underlying regularities in the organization of art forms. A group of ethnographic papers show how structural consistencies both relate to and reflect other aspects of the cultural system, while archaeological case studies suggest potential uses of this concept for archaeological material. Thus, through the study of the structure of art, this volume adds to our understanding of the total cultural system. The case studies demonstrate how structural analysis can be particularly systematic for comparative synchronic and diachronic studies. Moreover, the contributors boldly advocate a cognitive basis for the structural regularities underlying art forms. They demonstrate that art is much more than decoration; it is a sophisticated communication system.