Norman Hammond
Author of Ancient Maya Civilization
About the Author
Image credit: Norman Hammond
Works by Norman Hammond
Mesoamerican archaeology : new approaches : proceedings of a Symposium on Mesoamerican Archaeology held by the… (1974) 9 copies
South Asian archaeology; papers from the First International Conference of South Asian Archaeologists (1973) 6 copies
Ancient Cities 2 copies
The Archaeology of Afghanistan: From Earliest Times to the Timurid Period: New Edition (2019) 2 copies
'Divided they stood' in TLS 5031, 3 Sept 1999 [review of Jones' 'Conquest of the last Maya kingdom'] 1 copy
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1944-07-10
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- UK
- Country (for map)
- United Kingdom
- Education
- University of Cambridge
- Occupations
- archaeologist
- Organizations
- Boston University
Rutgers University
London Times
Cambridge University
Bradford University - Awards and honors
- FBA
Members
Reviews
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 22
- Also by
- 2
- Members
- 449
- Popularity
- #54,622
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 2
- ISBNs
- 23
- Languages
- 4
What stands out of note from this civilisation is their advanced numeracy and astronomy compared to temporally and spatially adjacent empires, including their base 20 number system, complex interlinking calendar systems, and accuracy of their lunar, solar, and planetary systems. Their art and architecture was also accomplished and distinctive, and there are a few good illustrations in this book. However many further illustrations could have been included as buildings or artworks are often described in the text without a picture being available (which is where google comes in handy). I was particularly left wanting to know more about how their writing system worked, with their hieroglyphic system simultaneously resembling various aspects of modern graffiti, emojis, and illuminated manuscripts, with its endless variety of embedded round-edged shapes with faces, parts of animals, and intricate flourishes, all mashed together into complex and characterful square clusters. Our knowledge of their history and religion is limited primarily to what has been translated from their stone monuments (and what can be inferred from current ethnography), as most of their remaining written literature was burnt by the Spanish invaders in the 16th and 17th Centuries. At which point their civilisation had already been in decline for over half a millennium, having abandoned many of their most impressive ritual urban centers to the jungle.
Fairly readable and interesting throughout, with a good section on further reading with a bibliography sorted according to topic at the back. Looking forward to reading the other two volumes in this set.… (more)