gems, archaeology, archaeogemology, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka

Presents 57 papers from the tenth International Conference of South Asian Archaeologists in Western Europe, Musee National des Arts Asiatiques-Guimet, Paris, France, 3–7 July 1989. The text comprises 36 papers on archaeology (early lithic cultures; Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa; settlements and objects of Chalcolithic and Bronze Age cultures; pottery, environmental evidence) and 21 papers on art history (sculpture; paintings; terracottas; coins from the 1st to the 17th centuries AD).

gems, fake gems from the 18th century, gemology, gem testing

In this book, scholars from a variety of disciplines provide new evidence about some of the most significant forgers and forgeries. The reception of fakes is considered, as is their importance as evidence for the history of taste and the art market.

jade, jadeite, fei cui, nephrite, Burma, nomenclature, gems

The paper discusses the definition of jade virtue" in Chinese civilization and the distinction between jade and fei cui (jadeite), explores the gemological definitions and the Chinese-English nomenclature of nephrite (soft jade) and jadeite (hard jade), and further examines and identifies newly discovered varieties of jade and fei cui. Finally, it proposes a precise definition and systematic classification of jade."

gems, jade, jadeite, fei cui, Mesoamerica, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mayans, Olmecs, Aztecs, archaeology, history, archaeogemology

The study of the minor Olmec schulpture is the fundamental basis of this book. To call it minor is a conotation of size and physical measure in terms of centimeters. The material used were jade, serpentine, clay, granite, basalt and wood. There is a special mention of the jade cult, because it established the zenith of the Olmec art. In the history of jade carving, nobody achieved nor even came close to compare with the magnificent realizations of the Olmec lapidaries and ther patrons, the Jade Lords. The Olmec Civilization was the creator of the most beautiful and impressive sculptural art works of all the Mesoamerican pre-Columbian art. It has been always an enigma: the sudden appearance of this magnificent art within a primitive environment, without the existence of any previous development stages. Now for the first time are exhibited here the achievements of long years of investigation around the Olmec problem. It has been possible to find enough evidence of the physical presence in America, 2,000 years ago, of transoceanic immigrants from the Old World, and also the cultural seeding they brought to the young Mesoamerica in those historical happenings, that influenced the cultural expressions of all the Mesoamerican Civilizations since the first one, the Olmec, until the two last, the Maya and the Aztec. The achieved facts permit also to make a definitive correction of many wrong statements about the Olmec occurred since the first explorations of Mathew Stirling until the works of Michael D. Coe, the two most outstanding American archaeologists. There are here published many new findings about the Olmec, being the most remarkable their original long distance communications system by the use of solar rays reflected in their marvelous hematite mirrors, a cultural feat that was the first step towards the Maya numerals and hieroglyphics. An English translation of: Los señores de jade (1991).

gems, archaeology, archaeogemology, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan

Divided into two parts, the volume comprises 52 articles—19 in Part I and 33 in Part II—covering topics as diverse as craniology in protohistoric Iranian Seistan and questions of authenticity in sixteenth-century Indian painting. The definition of archaeology adopted by the “South Asian Archaeologists in Europe” is notably broad, as is their geographic conception of South Asia, which spans from the Arabian Gulf to Bengal and from Central Asia to Sri Lanka. Participation is not limited to Europeans; American involvement has grown significantly over the years. Overall, these biennial conference proceedings, published regularly since 1973, offer valuable insight into the current Euro-American approach to the ancient cultures of a substantial portion of Asia.

gems, ancient gemology, early gemology, ancient mineralogy, early trade, India, Rome, ancient trade, commerce

Includes bibliographical references and indexes. Contents: Ancient naval technology and the route to India / Lionel Casson — Ports of the Red Sea and the Arabia-India trade / Steven E. Sidebotham — Roman trade / S.B. Deo — Red polished ware in Gujarat / Nancy Pinto Orton — The Roman bronzes from Kolhapur / Richard Daniel De Puma — Early Roman export class in India / E. Marianne Stern — Further evidence of Roman trade from coastal sites in Tamil Nadu / K.V. Raman — Terra sigillata at Arikamedu / Howard Comfort-- The Mediterranean shipping amphoras from Arikamedu — Ceramic evidence for pre-Periplus trade on the Indian coasts / Vimala Begley — The Port of Mantai, Sri Lanka / John Carswell — Observations on Mediterranean amphoras and tablewares found in India / Kathleen Warner Slane.

gems, ancient gemology, early gemology, ancient mineralogy, early trade, India, Rome

Includes bibliographical references and indexes. Contents: Ancient naval technology and the route to India / Lionel Casson — Ports of the Red Sea and the Arabia-India trade / Steven E. Sidebotham — Roman trade / S.B. Deo — Red polished ware in Gujarat / Nancy Pinto Orton — The Roman bronzes from Kolhapur / Richard Daniel De Puma — Early Roman export class in India / E. Marianne Stern — Further evidence of Roman trade from coastal sites in Tamil Nadu / K.V. Raman — Terra sigillata at Arikamedu / Howard Comfort-- The Mediterranean shipping amphoras from Arikamedu — Ceramic evidence for pre-Periplus trade on the Indian coasts / Vimala Begley — The Port of Mantai, Sri Lanka / John Carswell — Observations on Mediterranean amphoras and tablewares found in India / Kathleen Warner Slane.

gems, ancient gemology, early gemology, ancient mineralogy, early trade, India, Rome

Includes bibliographical references and indexes. Contents: Ancient naval technology and the route to India / Lionel Casson — Ports of the Red Sea and the Arabia-India trade / Steven E. Sidebotham — Roman trade / S.B. Deo — Red polished ware in Gujarat / Nancy Pinto Orton — The Roman bronzes from Kolhapur / Richard Daniel De Puma — Early Roman export class in India / E. Marianne Stern — Further evidence of Roman trade from coastal sites in Tamil Nadu / K.V. Raman — Terra sigillata at Arikamedu / Howard Comfort-- The Mediterranean shipping amphoras from Arikamedu — Ceramic evidence for pre-Periplus trade on the Indian coasts / Vimala Begley — The Port of Mantai, Sri Lanka / John Carswell — Observations on Mediterranean amphoras and tablewares found in India / Kathleen Warner Slane.

gems, ancient gemology, early gemology, ancient mineralogy, early trade, India, Rome

Includes bibliographical references and indexes. Contents: Ancient naval technology and the route to India / Lionel Casson — Ports of the Red Sea and the Arabia-India trade / Steven E. Sidebotham — Roman trade / S.B. Deo — Red polished ware in Gujarat / Nancy Pinto Orton — The Roman bronzes from Kolhapur / Richard Daniel De Puma — Early Roman export class in India / E. Marianne Stern — Further evidence of Roman trade from coastal sites in Tamil Nadu / K.V. Raman — Terra sigillata at Arikamedu / Howard Comfort-- The Mediterranean shipping amphoras from Arikamedu — Ceramic evidence for pre-Periplus trade on the Indian coasts / Vimala Begley — The Port of Mantai, Sri Lanka / John Carswell — Observations on Mediterranean amphoras and tablewares found in India / Kathleen Warner Slane.

, gems