Caves in Context: The Cultural Significance of Caves and Rockshelters in Europe

Book: Caves in Context: The Cultural Significance of Caves and Rockshelters in Europe
Knut Andreas Bergsvik (Editor), Robin Skeates (Editor)
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Oxbow Books (July 31, 2012)

Caves in Context provides the thriving inter-disciplinary field of cave studies with a European-scale survey of current research in cave archaeology. It is unified by a contemporary theoretical emphasis on the cultural significance and diversity of caves over space and time. Caves and rockshelters are found all over Europe, and have frequently been occupied by human groups, from prehistory right up to the present day. Some appear to have only traces of short occupations, while others contain deep cultural deposits, indicating longer and multiple occupations. Above all, there is great variability in their human use, both secular and sacred...