Rituals, Collapse, and Radical Transformation in Archaic States Edited by Joanne M.A. Murphy. London: Routledge 2021. Pp. 242. $160. ISBN 9780367230265 (cloth).

Ritual practices played a significant role in the collapse and transformation of archaic states, serving as both a cohesive force and a point of fracture during societal transitions. The book 'Rituals, Collapse, and Radical Transformation in Archaic States,' edited by Joanne M.A. Murphy, explores this theme through diverse case studies spanning Greece, the Americas, East Africa, southern India, and classical Myanmar. It argues that ritual can promote social cohesion but also fragment societies during times of trouble, often tied to ruling and elite cultures. The research approach involves analyzing ritual changes across different periods and regions, highlighting how these practices evolved or were abandoned post-collapse. Key findings include the shift from palace-controlled cults in Crete to more communal participation, the loss of ideological significance around Mycenaean tombs, and the decline of temple-building during state collapses in southern India.

Middleton, G. D. (2022). Rituals, Collapse, and Radical Transformation in Archaic States Edited by Joanne M.A. Murphy. London: Routledge 2021. Pp. 242. $160. ISBN 9780367230265 (cloth). American Journal of Archaeology, 126(1), E009–E011. https://doi.org/10.1086/718062