How the Shaman Stole the Moon

I picked this up at a used bookstore and am very glad I did. Perhaps it is due to a coincidence–the author describes himself as a hobbyist, interested in both archaeology and astronomy, and those were my twin passions in college. Because of that, I think, I found this book very natural to follow.

Basically, to me, it came across as one scientist's curiosity about a simple question: how did people in ancient cultures predict eclipses? (He might not have actually said that anywhere, which might be why some other reviewers weren't too pleased, but this was my understanding of how the narrative unfolded.) The author then goes on to examine instances where eclipses and history overlap using some anecdotal evidence, but mostly personal observations of archaeological structures ranging from Stone Henge to canyon dwellings in the US. He himself is not an archaeologist (he is upfront about this) and his research is dated (the book was written decades ago now) but essentially what he is doing is a light, personal form of experimental archaeology. He does not come to an exact conclusion–it wouldn't be possible to, given how much knowledge has been lost–but instead ends by musing on the ways ancient star-gazing and shamanism may have developed into the science we recognize today.

Like I said at the top, this was basically a blend of two of my pet subjects, so I enjoyed it very much–all the while realizing that it's over 30 years old now, and not hard science. ;) I think this book would be of interest to others who have a passing familiarity with archaeoastronomy, or to folks who like musing about ancient religion, or even to those who like experiential/experimental archaeology. It isn't a textbook. However, it is a thought-provoking survey of the early beginnings of a very intriguing field.