Archaeology Magazine - June 1958 - 59

REVIEWS

RECENT

BOOKS

IN ROMAN two final chapters summarize the en- south of Trenton. It has been both a
RELIGION
RITES
OFTHESTATE
ART,by Inez Scott Ryberg. xvi, 227 tire investigation by presenting con- focal point and reference point for
pages, 67 plates. American Academy clusions on the use of the motifs and Delaware Valley archaeology since
in Rome 1955 (Memoirs of the Amer- designs and on the major stylistic 1872when Dr. C. C. Abbott, physician
turned archaeologist,first reported on
trends in Roman imperial art.
ican Academyin Rome, Vol. 22)
The book will be a standard work the "palaeoliths" found there. From
In view of the fact that Roman imfor students of the artistic, religious that time on, the Abbott Farm area
perial art, as the author states, found and
political history of Rome because was the subject not only of intense
its most characteristic expression in
author
has been so thorough in controversy but also of several largethe
the representationof the state religious
her
collection
and analysis of material scale excavations.
ceremoniesthat commemorated impeand
has
taken
care to organize and
The last of these was that directed
rial achievements, this comprehensive
the
monuments
in
such
a
Dr. Dorothy Cross as part of the
interpret
by
survey and interpretationof the Roman
monuments depicting state religious way that the reader is ever aware of New Jersey Archaeological Survey.
rites emerges as a basic contribution the general plan, despite the detail in- Five years of uninterrupted digging
to the understanding of the whole his- cluded. The notes and references, bib- yielded probably the greatest mass of
liography and plates are of the utmost material ever excavated from one site
tory of Roman art. The circumscribed usefulness.
in the eastern coastal area- The raw
theme, too, affordsthe highest accuracy
Anna
S.
statistics are staggering: 676,324 cubic
Benjamin
in observationof stylistic development.
feet of earth removed from 173,732
After a brief analysis of the prec- University of Missouri
feet; 245 pits and hearths unsquare
edents for sacrificial themes and
covered; 88 individual remains excamotifs in Greek and Etruscan art, the ARCHAEOLOGY
OF NEWJERSEY,
Volume vated, 6063
arrowpoints, 7370 blades
most important relief monuments of Two. The Abbott Farm,
DOROTHY
by
and spearpoints, 233 knives, 1454
the late Republic- celebrating for the Cross, xiv, 215
pages, 17 figures, 46 scrapers, 767 drills, 969 miscellaneous
most part the theme of victory in war
14
1 graph, 21 tables. stone artifacts, 116
plates,
plans,
- are examined. Although by the last
axes, 81 celts, 7
The ArchaeologicalSocietyof New Jer- adzes, 192
pestles, 9 semi-lunar knives,
years of the Republic the two influ- sey and The New Jersey State Mu82 specialized stones, 1525 hammerences begin to be assimilated, the
Trenton 1956 $7.00
stones, 411 netsinkers, over 1000 copauthor holds that it is not until the seum,
Compared with most of the sites per beads, 57 bone objects and over
Augustan age that there emerges an
art which "is Roman in both content whose excavation has been described 30,000 pieces of pottery. Such a mass
arid form." The main body of the in this journal, those of the Delaware of material from so pivotal a site debook begins with the most significant River drainage are relatively barren. serves a monograph; and Dr. Cross
of the Augustan monuments, the Ara They lack almost completely those has devoted the second volume of her
Pacts. In the interpretation of the Ara exotic materials which have so often Archaeology of New Jersey to this
Pads and the discussion of the tradi- contributed to the glamor surrounding material.
tions which it inspired a large amount archaeology. While excavations have
Recognizing the role which Abbott
of evidence is assembled. This is of taken place throughout the Delaware Farm has played in setting the tone of
special interest to the student of his- Valley during the past three-quarters Eastern Archaeology, Dr. Cross has
tory sincethe material presentedclosely of a century, few sites have been dug written an interesting introductory
reflectsthe rulers' policiesin regard to consistently or professionally. Conse- chapter surveyingthe controversiessurthe cult of the divine emperor, an in- quently, although artifacts in private rounding Dr. Abbott's original disstitution of more political than reli- and museum collectionsare numerous, coveries. The major portion of the
significantresults for an understanding volume, however, is devoted to a clasgious significance.
The compendious study of the of the prehistoric occupation of this sification of the materials recovered.
Because of their extent, their descripmonuments bearing the themes of the area are meager.
Of those siteswhich have contributed tion is virtually a catalogue of Delasuovetaurilia,vota publica, the triumph
and the state cult continues the high most to our knowledge of the aborigi- ware Valley artifacts. In this tedious
standards which mark this work. nal occupation,one of the most signifi- and painstaking task Dr. Cross has
After a chapter devoted to sacrificial cant is Abbott Farm, which extends performed a valuable service.
themes on coins and medallions, the along the Delaware River bluff just
Unfortunately this site, so important
131

Archaeology Magazine - June 1958

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Archaeology Magazine - June 1958