Books like The anthropology of turquoise by Ellen Meloy


In *The Anthropology of Turquoise*, Ellen Meloy interweaves science, art, and adventure to examine turquoise as a cultural and natural phenomenon. From the Sierra Nevada and the Mojave Desert to the Yucatan Peninsula and the Bahamas, she travels to the Southwest’s high plateaus and deep canyons, inviting readers to view landscapes in new light. Meloy highlights the visual language of Navajo “velvet grandmothers,” the reverence of Persians for turquoise as a protective element, and the broader aesthetic and ecological significance of the stone. Her observations underscore the enduring allure of nature and the human urge to find meaning in the world’s colors and shapes.
First publish date: 2002
Genre: Travel & Geography/Travel Writing
Authors: Ellen Meloy
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The anthropology of turquoise by Ellen Meloy

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