Ancient Egyptian Technology and Innovation

Ian Shaw is Senior Lecturer in Egyptian Archaeology, University of Liverpool, and author of many books, including most recently "Egyptology: a very short introduction" (2004) and "Hatnub: quarrying travertine in ancient Egypt" (2008).

• Preface Acknowledgements List of illustrations Chronology Introduction: towards an explicitly anthropological analysis of technological change and innovation in ancient Egypt Analysing Egyptian Technological Dynamics - was Egyptian technology underpinned and framed by 'science'? Writing: human communication as social technology Medicine, Magic and Pharmacy: the fusion of science and religion Stone-working: the synthesis of traditional chaînes opératoires and ideological innovations Mummification and Glass-working: issues of definition and process Chariot Production: technical choice and socio-political change Military Hardware: the east Mediterranean knowledge economy and the emergence of the Iron Age in Egypt Technology Embedded in Urban Society: finding the individual in the general Conclusion Appendix 1: Measuring space Appendix 2: Measuring time Appendix 3: Astronomy and astrology Abbreviations Bibliography Index

This is a readable and thought-provoking volume from which students and professional Egyptologists will benefit. The use of theory is welcome, but the main impact of the book is its continuation of the theme of establishing an "Egyptological" theory of materials and technology.