Ancient Egyptian Technology and Innovation ─ Transformations in Pharaonic Material Culture

In addressing both technology and innovation in ancient Egypt, Shaw (Egyptian archaeology, U. of Liverpool, England) provides an anthropological account not only of how Egyptians created materials and artifacts, but also an exploration of the ways in which changes in material culture took place and how the development of particular types of artifact both reflected and instigated specific process of cultural and mental change. Following a general discussion of the nature of technological dynamics in ancient Egypt, he presents chapters that focus on specific areas of technological development, including writing, medicine, stone-working, mummification, glass-working, chariot production, and military hardware. Distributed in the US by International Publishers Marketing. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)