Ancient Americas History:
Anasazi, Aztecs, Mayas, Incas, et. al.

KOKOPELLI DANCING BOOKPLATES (Sample available)
art by V. Protsak. Condition: NEW package of 10 bookplates made by pacaritambo books. The peel-off label stock is heavier than most bookplate materials and is matte and not glossy. They are as perfect as possible, and we feel the subject matter is much different than you can get anywhere else. We can also personalize the bookplates if you like - email us with your name preference. 3.3" H x 3.4" W. Content: Kokopelli is most likely the most famous of all the ancient American petroglyphs. "Kokopelli is a fertility deity, usually depicted as a humpbacked flute player (often with a huge phallus and feathers or antenna-like protrusions on his head), who has been venerated by some Native American cultures in the Southwestern United States. Like most fertility deities, Kokopelli presides over both childbirth and agriculture. He is also a trickster god and represents the spirit of music." (Wikipedia) Any questions or for a sample, click here to email us.
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ANCIENT PIONEERS: The First Americans (Deluxe Edition)
by George E. Stuart. Loaded with beautiful color photos of the lands, artifacts, monuments, and art plus some B&W era photos. Condition: NEW 2001 National Geographic leather hardcover *pictorial boards - no DJ issued), no printing given. Content: This is a wonderful (and beautiful) overview of the first peoples of the Americas from the Inuit to the Anasazi, Mound Builders, the Incas, Aztecs, and Mayas and others. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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ECHOES OF THE ANCIENT SKIES: The Astronomy of Lost Civilizations
by Dr. E. C. Krupp. Great B&W photos, drawings, and star charts illustrate. Condition: PLEASE READ / UNREAD, but not perfect, 1983 Harper, Row large soft cover, no printing given. Light edge wear with rubbing along front hinge - interior clean & tight. Content: All over the world, through countless centuries, people have looked skyward for inspiration and guidance in their lives and activities. For most of the history of humankind, going back to the Stone Age, the sky has served as a tool. The regularity of the motions of celestial objects enabled our ancestors to orient themselves in time and space, satisfying their need for human order. How vast this heavenly influence was, and how awesome the human achievements it engendered were, are illuminated in this extraordinary work of investigation and discovery. With hundreds of illustrations and photographs, Echoes of the Ancient Skies is a sweeping look at the world of archaeoastronomy from the prehistoric megaliths of Stonehenge, to the medicine wheels of North America, to the Aztec "Calendar Stone." The intriguing field of archaeoastronomy--the study of ancient peoples' observation of the skies and its role in their cultural evolution--seeks to explore the "universal evidence that people have used astronomy as the model for injecting order and predictability on their behavior and on life." Examining this universal behavior, Dr. E.C. Krupp takes the reader to sites throughout the world (most of which he has personally visited)--from Egypt, China, Babylonia, and Greece, to Turkey, Scotland, Wyoming, and Mexico. He interprets the significance of celestial observation and its relation to the earthly experiences of our ancestors, from practical applications of farming and the measurement of time to philosophical queries into our particular place within the universe. He covers such fascinating topics as how we see the seasons in the sun and stars, possible ancient and prehistoric observatories such as the megalithic Kintraw monument in Scotland, and sky gods and myths around the world and throughout history--from the Egyptian goddess Nut to the myth of Phaethon and the golden chariot of his father Helios. Krupp goes on to examine the ancient parallels between cosmic creation and our lives (as seen in the great pyramids of Egyptian pharaohs) and monuments of transcendental journey (such as the painted rock shrines of California). He shows us that the effects of celestial observation on our ancestors can also be seen in religious vigils--like shamans' transactions with the sky and their access to the sacred--as well as in calendars and clocks used throughout the centuries, mathematics, ancient temples, sources of world order, and the symbols we draw. [Still the best study, IMHO.] [1 copy available]
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FRIAR BRINGAS REPORTS TO THE KING: Methods of Indoctrination on the Frontier of New Spain 1796-97
by Father Miguel Bringas de Manzaneda y Encinas, O.F.M. Translated & Edited by Daniel S. Matson and Bernard L. Fontana. B&W maps & decorations. Condition: NEW 1977 Univ. of Arizona Press Trade Paperback edition, no printing given. Most likely this book was produced in the 80s - 90s. The color on the cover is weak - several small rubbings front cover. Interior perfect. Content: When Friar Bringas penned his report on conditions in northwestern New Spain, he was imbued with an enthusiastic drive for reform. Hoping to gain the King of Spain's support in improving the missionary program, Bringas set down a detailed history of all that had happened in the region since Father Kino's day. His writings offer a valuable firsthand stufy of Spanish attempts to direct culture change among the Piman Indians. He carefully explained various missionary and secular policies, laws, and regulations. He pointed out why, in his opinion, Spanish efforts to convert the Pkman Indians had failed. He also provided a report of the orders establishing the ill-fated Yuma missions. His fascinating account of the Gila River Pimas is one of the most complete ethnographic descriptions of the time. This is an important study of Spain's attemps to assimilate the Indians. It offers a deeper understanding of the history of the Pimeria Alta. Fascinating! [1 copy available]
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FRIAR BRINGAS REPORTS TO THE KING: Methods of Indoctrination on the Frontier of New Spain 1796-97
by Father Miguel Bringas de Manzaneda y Encinas, O.F.M. Translated & Edited by Daniel S. Matson and Bernard L. Fontana. B&W maps & decorations. Condition: Gently pre-read (to about page 20) 1977 Univ. of Arizona Press Trade Paperback edition, no printing given. Most likely this book was produced in the 80s - 90s. The color on the cover is weak - several small rubbings front cover. Interior clean & tight. Content: When Friar Bringas penned his report on conditions in northwestern New Spain, he was imbued with an enthusiastic drive for reform. Hoping to gain the King of Spain's support in improving the missionary program, Bringas set down a detailed history of all that had happened in the region since Father Kino's day. His writings offer a valuable firsthand stufy of Spanish attempts to direct culture change among the Piman Indians. He carefully explained various missionary and secular policies, laws, and regulations. He pointed out why, in his opinion, Spanish efforts to convert the Pkman Indians had failed. He also provided a report of the orders establishing the ill-fated Yuma missions. His fascinating account of the Gila River Pimas is one of the most complete ethnographic descriptions of the time. This is an important study of Spain's attemps to assimilate the Indians. It offers a deeper understanding of the history of the Pimeria Alta. Fascinating! [1 copy available]
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GRANDMOTHERS OF THE LIGHT: A Medicine Woman's Sourcebook
by Paula Gunn Allen. Illustrations by Patricia Amlin. Condition: UNREAD 1998 Beacon Press Trade Paperback, third printing. Light edge wear. Content: While basically a "new age" shamanism is emphasised in this book, the mythology is still good and covers all the tribal areas from the East Coast, Plains, Southwest, and Northwest as well as myths from the Aztecs and Mayas. Worth reading! Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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A GUIDE TO PRE-COLUMBIAN ART
by John Paul Barbier. Wonderful color photos and B&W maps illustrate. Condition: NEW 1998 Skira Trade Paperback, no printing given. Content: This easy-to-use guide provides a unique opportunity to gain a closer view of the pre-Hispanic world. Text by Jean Paul Barbier, one of the foremost collectors of 'primitive' art and Director of the Barcelona Museum of Ethnology, the text provides a close analysis of the origins and the decline of the greatest ancient American civilizations. The Mayas, Aztecs and Inkas are revealed alongside many other lesser known but equally fascinating cultures, from the Amazon Basin, the forest of the Eastern Mississippi and the mountains and deserts of the Southwestern United States. Chapters range from a commentary on the art of Central America, Peru and Western Mexico to a study of the goldsmith's craft and of the three cities of Teotihuacan, Monte Alban and El Tajin. Stone and wooden sculptures, ceramics, gold and silver jewelry and fabrics selected from the rich collections of the Museo Barbier-Mueller of Pre-Columbian art in Barcelona illustrate the extraordinary sophistication of early American artists. The text is supplemented by detailed geographical maps, photographs of archaeological sites and drawings, to give the whole picture of life in Pre-Columbian America. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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HUAJATOLLA; Southern Colorado's Ancient Legends of the Land
written and illustrated by Kristen F. Naeyaert. B&W illustrations for coloring. Condition: NEW 2005 Earthwing (La Veta, Co) soft cover, no printing given. Content: Huajatolla is a Comanche word meaning "Breasts of the Earth" (Spanish Peaks). The mountain chain backing up to the Juajatolla is known as the Sangre de Christo which extend into Mexico. The wonderful symbolic drawings, along with the intriguing remnants of ancient stories, pull together a provocative interpretation of the Huajatolla legends. Includes legends from the Native American cultures to the Olmecs, Aztecs and Mayas to the gold seekers. Fascinating and very worthwhile book. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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KINGDOMS OF GOLD, KINGDOMS OF JADE: The Americas Before Columbus
by Brian M. Fagan. Great selection of B&W and color photos illustrate. Condition: Gently pre-read 1991 Thames & Hudson hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first pritning. Content: This book discusses the world of the ancient Americas from the pre-Inca and pre-Aztec cultures to the Pacific Northwest peoples. Of course, some of this information is going to be dated, but the most impressive thing about this book is the photo selecction - some I've not seen before. Worth the read. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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A LITTLE HISTORY OF ASTRO-ARCHEOLOGY (aka Secrets of the Stones) Revised & Updated Edition
by John Michell. Great B&W photos, star charts, drawings illustrate. Condition: NEW 2001 Thames & Hudson Trade Paperback, revised & updated edition. Content: Stonehenge today is a battlefield, not only for police and festivalgoers at midsummer but also for rival camps of archaeologists, astronomers, and other researchers into the mysteries of prehistoric religion and science. Controversy flared up in 1963, when Gerald Hawkins made early use of the computer to identify Stonehenge as an observatory for the sun and moon and an instrument for predicting eclipses. Further studies of megalithic sites by Alexander Thom proved that many of them were also related to the seasonal positions of the heavenly bodies. The study of astro-archaeology has now expanded worldwide, bringing new revelations about the mystical sciences of antiquity. This "little history" summarizes the issues involved in astro-archaeology, and illustrates its principal sites and personalities. Included are recent findings of British scientists, whose records of anomalous levels of natural energies at stone circles are in accordance with the magical reputations of such places in local folklore. The present state of research and the exciting prospects for astro-archaeology in the future are summed up in the final chapter. 97 B&W illustrations. Questions welcome [1 copy available]
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LOST CIVILIZATIONS: Rediscovering Ancient Sites Through New Technology
by Austen Atkinson. Color photos of the archaeological sites. Excellent! Condition: NEW 2002 Watson-Guptil huge (3-pound coffee-table-size) hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: A wealth of never-before-published scientific and satellite information that attempts to solve the tangled mysteries of our lost civilizations! The enduring legends of Plato's lost city of Atlantis and the sunken origins of humanity in Churchward's Mu civilization continue to obsess archaeologists, authors, and anyone else seeking answers to questions about the true nature of our ancestors, their civilizations, their achievements, and their culture. And thanks to amazing new technology, archaeologists and historians are closer to finding these answers than ever before. Ruins considered too sacred to touch by local inhabitants, or excavations eventually abandoned due to lack of equipment and financing, can now be studied with the help of satellite and land-based remote sensing. What's more, this state-of-the-art technology reveals more information about our ancient forefathers than ever before. Through the use of never-before-published radar and resistance maps from NASA, the Russian Space Agency, National Geographic, the European Space Agency, and other organizations, Lost Civilizations investigates 20 of the most intriguing lost cities in detail. Packed with cutting-edge scientific information, this reference displays the decorative splendor of magnificent sites like Angkor Wat in Cambodia and legendary cities like Machu Picchu, as well as exciting new discoveries like the City of the Mahram Bilqis in Yemen and the Ubar in Arabia. Each lost civilization is illustrated with modern maps and breathtaking color photography of the remains, and complemented by fascinating computer-generated reconstructions presenting the cities in their original splendor. Also included are reproductions of the amazing artifacts and artwork achaeologists have managed to unearth. The perfect book for lovers of ancient history, art, and culture, Lost Civilizations offers a mesmerizing, first-ever look at the mysterious life and people of our ancient world. The sites covered: Anasazi sites, Cancuen, Chichen Itza, Machu Picchu, Tiwanaku, Atlantis, Halicarnassues, Helike, Knossos, Pompei, Troy, Babylon, Mahram Bilqis, Nimrud, Persepolis, Ubar, Ur, Angkor Wat, Anuradhapura, Mohenjodaro. [1 copy available]
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MORE MAYA MISSIONS: Exploring Colonial Chiapas
by Richard D. Perry. Illustrated in B&W drawings and maps by the author. Condition: NEW 1995 Espadana Press (Santa Barbara, CA) Trade PB. No edition given. 128 pages. Content: Noted for its dramatic scenery, this remote province with its large Maya population has long fascinated travellers, especially its ancient Maya cities of Palenque, Toniná, and Chincultic. The unique Maya folk culture of Chiapas has survived in the highland villages, but the area also has a less well-known Spanish heritage. For over three hundred years, Chiapas was ruled from Guatemala, and today this legacy lives on in its language, culture, and rich variety of Spanish colonial buildings. These range from sophisticated urban churches, convents, and palaces, to old Dominican missions and vernacular village churches in the countryside. This new book will intrigue travellers along the Ruta Maya. Three itineraries cover all the principal monuments of the region, which include cathedrals, ornate parish churches, and fortress-like monasteries in addition to rural missions. All the buildings are described in their original settings and illustrated with original line drawings. (3 copies available)
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NATIVE LAND
by Jamake Highwater. B&W photos & maps throughout. Condition: UNREAD 1995 Barness & Noble hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), reissue, first printig. Content: Highwater has won much acclaim for his work on the American Indians, and this elaboration is a colorful panorama of the Indians' worlds until the white man took their lands. Their civilizations rose and fell many times before culminating in such wondrous cities as Tenochtitlan (ancient Mexico City), which dazzled the conquistadors, for it was five times the size of London. A marvel of city planning, built in the middle of a lake, surrounded by floating gardens, it was connected to the mainland by causeways and aqueducts. Though these civilizations have yet to yield up all their secrets, Highwater's book gives a very readable account. Covers all Mesoamerican civilizarions, Andean civilizations, the Mound Builders and early Plans Tribes. Some information is dated, of course, but overall still very relevant. (1 copy available)
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PRE-SOLUMBIAN MEXICAN DESIGNS - CD-ROM & Book
edited by Carol Belanger Grafdton. 241 full-color images and 125 B&W images. Condition: NEW 2008 Dover soft cover with CD-Rom for Mac & Windows. Content: The images are in JPEG and TIFF formats and are royaty free. The images are from the ancient codices. However, the image are not presented with information of which Codex and what the image means. (1 copy available)
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STEALING HISTORY: Tomb Raiders, Smugglers, and the Looting of the Ancient World
by Roger Atwood. Condition: NEW 2006 St. Martin's Trade Paperback, first printing. Tiny edge wear. Content: As the destruction from the war in Iraq has demonstrated most recently, a country's antiquities are never safe from marauding looters and greedy collectors who trawl the black market. In a study that is part detective story and part history lesson, Atwood, an expert on the antiquities market who writes for ARTnews and Archaeology, focuses on one incident as a case study of the insidious effects of the illicit antiquities trade. In 1987, a group of grave robbers working at a burial mound near the village of Sipán in northern Peru uncovered a mausoleum of Moche rulers (the Moche were an innovative indigenous tribe) with a rich cache of gold and silver artifacts. Word soon spread to international buyers, who responded favorably, and prolonged looting began. By the time the Peruvian police intervened three weeks later, much damage had already been done. Walter Alva, a native Peruvian and the site's chief archeologist, uncovered many more undamaged tombs and worked tirelessly to preserve this ancient legacy, bravely confronting looters and endeavoring to establish laws to prevent museums form accepting stolen goods. The case raised international awareness of the illegal antiquities trade. Atwood's ability to bring a story dramatically to life and his keen interest in stemming the illegal antiquities trade makes this an important book for anyone interested in archeology, preservation or the potentially tangled provenance of works they love. Questions welcome [1 copy available]
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THE WORLD'S MOST MYSTEROUS CASTLES
by Lionel & Patricia Fanthorpe. Wonderful B&W photos, drawings, and maps illustrate. Condition: NEW 2005 Dumdurn Press (Toronto) Trade Paperback, first printing. Content: [Nice section on the "ruins" of the Ancient Americas and the Alamo.] Castles are among the most mysterious buildings on earth. Their grimly silent stones are signposts to a past filled with high adventure, grim tragedies, and glorious victories. Ghosts, hauntings, and other paranormal phenomena are frequently reported from castles. Do strange paranormal powers lurk among their ancient ruins? This book takes you on a journey through hidden chambers and subterranean tunnels of castles all over the world. Their walls served the sinister needs of spies, traitors, and assassins. Do the spirits of attackers and defenders who died in long-forgotten sieges still linger where they fell? Screams of unbearable pain and despair were muffled within their deepest, darkest torture dungeons. Do they echo there still? Lionel Fanthorpe taught history at Gamlingay Village College in Cambridgeshire. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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