There is evidence that ever since early prehistory; textiles have always had more than simply a utilitarian function. Textiles express who we are - our gender; age; family affiliation; occupation; religion; ethnicity and social; political; economic and legal status. Besides expressing our identity; textiles protect us from the harsh conditions of the environment; whether as clothes or shelter. We use them at birth for swaddling; in illness as bandages and at death as shrouds. We use them to carry and contain people and things. We use them for subsistence to catch fish and animals and for transport as sails. In fact; textiles represent one of the earliest human craft technologies and they have always been a fundamental part of subsistence; economy and exchange. Textiles have an enormous potential in archaeological research to inform us of social; chronological and cultural aspects of ancient societies. In archaeology; the study of textiles is often relegated to the marginalised zone of specialist and specialised subject and lack of dialogue between textile researchers and scholars in other fields means that as a resource; textiles are not used to their full potential or integrated into the overall interpretation of a particular site or broader aspects of human activity. Textiles and Textile Production in Europe is a major new survey that aims to redress this. Twenty-three chapters collect and systematise essential information on textiles and textile production from sixteen European countries; resulting in an up-to-date and detailed sourcebook and an easily accessible overview of the development of European textile technology and economy from prehistory to AD 400. All chapters have an introduction; give the chronological and cultural background and an overview of the material in question organised chronologically and thematically. The sources of information used by the authors are primarily textiles and textile tools recovered from archaeological contexts. In addition; other evidence for the study of ancient textile production; ranging from iconography to written sources to palaeobotanical and archaeozoological remains are included. The introduction gives a summary on textile preservation; analytical techniques and production sequence that provides a background for the terminology and issues discussed in the various chapters. Extensively illustrated; with over 200 colour illustrations; maps; chronologies and index; this will be an essential sourcebook not just for textile researchers but also the wider archaeological community.
#1207692 in eBooks 2013-03-20 2013-03-25File Name: B00BU23VKI
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Excellent resourceBy Jenna CookI would give this book an extra star if it were more complete in a couple of areas. For me having a list of plant material that would be best per type of garden would be a nice to have. I wonder if such a resource or book is available? Next; I know this is a an evidence based approach to healing gardens and it does explore some possible reasons why gardens work the way they do but the book omits some key points to explore. Two Eastern cultures (at least) have been using the natural environment and gardens to promote a healthier life style; Ayurvedic medicine (in the Indian subcontinent) and classical Chinese medicine have been doing this for thousands of years. In particular Chinese medicine in conjunction with the understanding of Chi and energy flow have been using the landscape to promote healing for centuries. Some will even try to compare EBD to Feng Shui garden design principles. They are just about the same. Integrated EBD is about 30 years old and Feng Shui is over 3000 years old. The Chinese seem to have known something for a long time before that and it is only recently that our Western minds are starting to figure it all out. What about the evidence of how a garden makes us feel? Our own thoughts and feelings should be evidence enough for just us? Given this; it would be great to see a book and an extra layer of how healing gardens may work and not just rely on Western thinking. Its not the whole story by far.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. An important work that will improve the quality of spaces for healthcare and residential care livingBy brian E. BainnsonGot my copy two weeks ago and I am already incorporating ideas from the book into my projects. The chapters are broken down by types of gardens and clinical needs and the case studies provide real world examples of the theory and approaches described in the book. A must have for anyone designing; building; or associated with Healing and Therapy Gardens.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Clear and compelling compendiumBy Jennifer MastersEssential up-to-date information culled from a vast body of research. Incredible resource for anyone interested in creating or promoting quality outdoor environments in a variety of settings. The case has been made (ie there are scores of rigorous studies to back up what we know on a human level) and presented here so beautifully. The next challenge is to create a strategic funding plan.