Why read Knowledge and Power in Prehistoric Societies?

Book cover of Knowledge and Power in Prehistoric Societies: Orality, Memory and the Transmission of Culture

Book description

In this book, Lynne Kelly explores the role of formal knowledge systems in small-scale oral cultures in both historic and archaeological contexts. In the first part, she examines knowledge systems within historically recorded oral cultures, showing how the link between power and the control of knowledge is established. Analyzing the…

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Prehistory

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Why read it?

1 author picked Knowledge and Power in Prehistoric Societies as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Patrick Nunn

Author

I had been immersed in oral cultures for more than two decades when I read this book by Lynne Kelly and it was like a curtain being lifted for me. Suddenly I found affirmation that oral traditions indeed had meaning and purpose but – more than this – that they were supplemented in this by art, by dance and performance, by poetry and music. Lynne’s clever and readable book has had a lasting impact on me and the research questions I endeavor to answer. Everyone interested in human pasts should read it.

From Patrick's list on ancient oral traditions.