Metaphor and Material Culture

Christopher Tilley is Professor of Material Culture in the Department of Anthropology and the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. He is the author of many books relating social theory to the study of material forms. Recent publications include Interpretative Archaeology (editor, 1993), A Phenomenology of Landscape (1994) and An Ethnography of the Neolithic (1996).

"Metaphor and Material Culture should win many converts, for it is his best book so far ... No one need feel inhibited from reading this study. In fact it has important lessons for all of us." Cambridge Archaeological Journal "This is an innovative book which raises important issues relevant to students of material culture." George Bankes, University of Manchester, Journal of The Royal Anthropological Institute

• Contents: Preface. List of Illustrations.List of Tables.Part I: Metaphor and the constitution of the world:.1. Metaphor in language, thought and culture.2. Solid metaphor: the analysis of material forms.Part II: Text, artefact, art: Introduction.3. Frozen metaphor: megaliths in texts.4. The metaphorical transformations of Wala canoes.5. Body metaphors in southern Scandinavian rock art.Part III: Landscapes and a sense of place: Introduction.6. The beach in the sky.7. Performing culture in the global village.8. Conclusions.References.Index.