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Early Body Ornaments and the Origins of our Semiotic Mind

Early Body Ornaments and the Origins of our Semiotic Mind cover

Early Body Ornaments and the Origins of our Semiotic Mind

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Pre-order. Available Feb 05 2026
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Description

By employing a cognitive semiotic theory based on pragmatism and enactivism, this book explores the nature and emergence of early body ornamentation, which has long been at the forefront of the debate on modern human origins.

Using a range of artefacts including the Blombos Cave Beads, ostrich eggshells, and engraved pieces of ochre, the book examines the connection between early body ornaments and the semiotic mind, and addresses the question of whether early body ornaments were made by a symbolic mind, or whether they provided the material and semiotic scaffolding required for such a mind to emerge.

Table of Contents

Foreword
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Appendix Tables
1. Early Body Ornaments
1.1 Debate on Modern Human Origins
1.2 Spatiotemporal Distribution of Early Shell Beads
1.3 Blombos Inference
1.4 Prime Movers of Ornamentation
1.5 Structure of the Book
Part I: The Nature of Material Signification
2. Search For the Optimal Semiotic Theory
2.1 The Nature of Material Signification in Evolutionary Archaeology
2.2 The Nature of Material Signification in Theoretical Archaeology
2.3 The Optimal Theory for Describing the Nature of Past Material Signification
2.4 Summary
3. Outline of the Peircean Semiotic Theory
3.1 Peirce's Sign
3.2 Three Triads
3.3 Peirce's Tenfold Typology of Signs
3.4 Summary
4. Application of the Peircean Semiotic Theory
4.1 Re-Evaluating the Nature of Symbolism
4.2 Rethinking the Nature of Ornamental Signs
4.3 Extending the Nature of Ornamental Signs
4.4 Summary
Part II: The Emergence of Material Signification
5. Search For The Optimal Evolutionary Theory
5.1 The Emergence of Material Signs In Evolutionary Archaeology
5.2 The Optimal Theory for Tracing the Emergence of Past Material Signification
5.3 Summary
6. Outline of a Pragmatic and Enactive Theory of Cognitive Semiotics
6.1 Phenomenological Background
6.2 Pragmatic and Enactive Signification
6.3 Aesthetic Material Signs
6.4 Summary
7. Application of a Pragmatic and Enactive Theory of Cognitive Semiotics
7.1 The Emergence of Iconic, Indexical, and Symbolic Body Ornamentation
7.2 The Emergence of Aesthetic Body Ornamentation and Cultural Identity
7.3 The Emergence of Human Selfhood through Ornament-Based Rituals
7.4 Summary
8. The Origins of our Semiotic Mind
Bibliography
Appendix
Index

Product details

Bloomsbury Academic Test
Published Feb 05 2026
Format Hardback
Edition 1st
Extent 232
ISBN 9781350260078
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Illustrations 15 bw illus
Dimensions 9 x 6 inches
Series Bloomsbury Advances in Semiotics
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Antonis Iliopoulos

Antonis Iliopoulos is a postdoctoral researcher fo…

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