On the Edge of Purgatory: An Archaeology of Place in Hispanic Colorado

Overall, this volume is a very interesting read, presenting a diverse array of topics and approaches on a range of materials from Britain and beyond. Perhaps some would criticize this volume for lacking in cohesion and providing too wide a range of subjects. However, the papers are linked by a series of themes, as befits the dedication to Rolt. Not only are physical landscapes described, but also attempts have been made to understand the social background of these technologies, complementing Rolt’s own later writings. The second book under review is one of nine publications to date that detail the outcomes of the vasilikos valley Project (vvP). This project, initiated by Todd in 1976, conducted extensive and intensive transect surveys, excavation, and historic, social, ethnographic and environmental studies, along the vasilikos valley in the Larnaca district of south Cyprus. Notably, two well-preserved and culturally important sites in Cyprus, Kalavasos-Tenta (Aceramic Neolithic) and Kalavasos-Ayios Dhimitrios (Late Bronze Age), alongside others, were excavated as part of this study. The 12th report, under review here is the second describing the field survey and is concerned with mapping various types of human settlement in the valley. The first chapter offers an addendum to field survey methods and issues, which were thoroughly covered in Part 9 of the series, and provides justifications and amendments in response to comments made on the aforementioned volume. The geographic and economic features of the landscape are outlined in the second chapter. This section takes into account the topography of the landscape, geological processes affecting habitation and retrieval of evidence, natural resources (water, vegetation, stone types, minerals), evidence for metallurgical processes, as well as examining historical industries conducted in the valley. This provides an excellent framework for understanding the following sections. The first of these lists various features that were found during survey of the landscape. These include terraces and other agricultural features, water management mechanisms, kilns, railways and village structures. The end of this section also outlines some of the environmental, ethnographic and social studies undertaken in support of this research. In the final section of the publication, the nature of human settlement is detailed chronologically from the earliest Neolithic to Colonial times. Find locations are listed, the material and nature of settlement is classified, and this is contextualized in discussion of contemporary sites from other areas of Cyprus. A distribution map of material is provided for each period, which illustrates the findings of the survey well. The methods and results are then compared to other large-scale surveys in Cyprus. The appendices provide a catalogue of all the sites recorded and a specialist report on the mills by Jonathon Mitchell. Although the methods of this field survey have been critiqued, many of the issues mentioned can be explained by the time period in which they were undertaken and the wide spatial and chronological scope of the project. The study also employs a fairly interdisciplinary approach to understanding the evidence there. The volume is well written and reasoned. Controversies in Cypriot archaeology are dealt with in a sensitive manner, with different interpretations expressed, and caution has been taken in making assumptions based on minimal evidence. Overall, this volume offers a comprehensive account, bringing together sites, features and artefact scatters discovered by the VVP field survey and other projects, and contributing significantly to scholarly knowledge on the uses of the vasilikos valley through time. Although these two volumes do not appear very similar initially, both are concerned with exploring technologies within their physical and social landscapes, and both take into account a wide range of approaches, materials and resources. Furthermore, both represent the outcome or commemoration of a lifetimes work dedicated to understanding past landscapes of technology.