Before Civilization: The Radiocarbon Revolution and Prehistoric Europe

Renfrew, Colin

ISBN 10: 0224007904 / ISBN 13: 9780224007900

Published by Jonathan Cape, 1973

About this Item

292 pp.; ex-library copy; no dust jacket; cover in good condition; previous owner's stamp on front endpaper; binding is tight and text block is clean and unmarked.

Seller Inventory # ABE-1648065841094

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Before Civilization: The Radiocarbon Revolution and Prehistoric Europe
• Publisher: Jonathan Cape
• Publication Date: 1973
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0224007904
• ISBN 13: 9780224007900
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket
• Seller catalogs:
  • History

About this title

Synopsis

The refinement of radiocarbon dating using the information form tree-ring counts has raised serious doubts about the accepted theoretical frameowkr of European prehistory. Monuments in Central and Western Europe have proved to be considerably older than their supposed Near-Eastern forerunners, and the record must be almost completely rewritten in the light of these new dates. Before Civilsation is a preliminary attempt to do this with the help of analogies from more recent and well-documented primitive societies. The more glaring inconsistencies in the old theory are re-examined and Professor Renfrew shows convincingly how the baffling monuments of prehistoric Europe, like Stonehenge, could have been built without recourse to help from the 'more civilized' Near East.