The essays in this volume, which was originally published in 1983,
present an innovative and unified approach to the archaeological
analysis and interpretation of art and design. Together, they illustrate
a variety of approaches to the discovery and systematic description of
the underlying regularities in the organization of art forms. A group of
ethnographic papers show how structural consistencies both relate to and
reflect other aspects of the cultural system, while archaeological case
studies suggest potential uses of this concept for archaeological
material. Thus, through the study of the structure of art, this volume
adds to our understanding of the total cultural system. The case studies
demonstrate how structural analysis can be particularly systematic for
comparative synchronic and diachronic studies. Moreover, the
contributors boldly advocate a cognitive basis for the structural
regularities underlying art forms. They demonstrate that art is much
more than decoration; it is a sophisticated communication system.