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John Vincent Bellezza

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Papers by John Vincent Bellezza

Research paper thumbnail of Chapter 1. Discovering the First Civilization of Tibet

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Chapter 6. Penetrating the Earth: The Burial Grounds of Zhang Zhung

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Chapter 10. My Ancestors, My Gods: Zhang Zhung Reigns in Contemporary Upper Tibet

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Chapter 7. Flesh, Blood, and Bones in Stone: The Artistic Treasures of Zhang Zhung

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of The Dawn of Tibet

Research paper thumbnail of Chapter 9. Horned Heroes and Turquoise Maidens: The Cultural Life of Zhang Zhung

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Chapter 5. Touching the Sky: The Citadels and Temples of Zhang Zhung

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Chapter 2. The Great Sky Realm: The Land of Upper Tibet

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Chapter 8. Father Sky Eagle and Mother Earth Serpent: The Religion of Zhang Zhung

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of A Comprehensive Survey of Rock Art in Upper Tibet: Volume II

Focusing on the central and western parts of the region, this is the second in a series of five v... more Focusing on the central and western parts of the region, this is the second in a series of five volumes that comprehensively document rock art in Upper Tibet. It examines a panoply of graphic evidence found on stone surfaces, supplying an unprecedented view of the long-term development of culture and religion on a large swathe of the Tibetan Plateau. The pictographs (rock paintings) and petroglyphs (rock carvings), host sites, and descriptions and analyses presented are the direct result of intensive fieldwork conducted by the author in Upper Tibet between 1995 and 2016. Information on rock art production techniques, subject identification, thematic class, mode of presentation, physical condition, estimated age, and relative location are supplied for each piece of rock art. In addition to the datasets, the book offers rock art site descriptions and assesses the cultural, religious and artistic development of these locations.

Research paper thumbnail of Chapter 4. From Sky to Earth: The History of Zhang Zhung

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Indexes

Spirit-mediums, Sacred Mountains and Related Bon Textual Traditions in Upper Tibet

Research paper thumbnail of Part Three: The Mountain and Lake Deities of the Spirit-Mediums

Spirit-mediums, Sacred Mountains and Related Bon Textual Traditions in Upper Tibet, 2005

Research paper thumbnail of A Comprehensive Survey of Rock Art in Upper Tibet. Volume II. Central and Western Byang thang

Cover: Overlooking the north side of Da rog mtsho. The large peninsula that seems to be named Sle... more Cover: Overlooking the north side of Da rog mtsho. The large peninsula that seems to be named Sle dmar chen is on the right side of photograph and the island of Do rta sga is on the left. Both these locations support archaic residential edifices and other types of early structures, all of which are now in a state of ruin. This photograph was taken in the winter when the lake surface was frozen. Spine: Outline of Inv. no. S30_L1_C44: wild yak. Iron Age. Cat35.

Research paper thumbnail of A Comprehensive Survey of Rock Art in Upper Tibet. Volume I. Eastern Byang thang

Research paper thumbnail of Facsimiles of the Earliest Ritual Architecture on the Plateau A Comprehensive Survey of Stepped Shrines in the Rock Art of Upper Tibet

click on the small image for full screen image with captions.) Site Number Site Name County Type ... more click on the small image for full screen image with captions.) Site Number Site Name County Type 1 Brag gdong East Ru thog Petroglyph 2 Ser mdzod rdo ring Ru thog Petroglyph 3 Rwa 'brog 'phrang Ru thog Petroglyph

Research paper thumbnail of Zenpar Final

Research paper thumbnail of Object 2 Chu thags golden mask 2023 Final

Research paper thumbnail of Object 1 A lci rock art 2023 Final

Research paper thumbnail of Knucklebones JOT

Through archeological and ethnographic sources this article furnishes a comprehensive perspective... more Through archeological and ethnographic sources this article furnishes a comprehensive perspective on the Tibetan cultural purposes of the ovicaprid ankle bone called astragalus or knucklebone. It sets forth criteria for the identification of culturally significant astragali in Tibetan tombs and assesses the functional implications of examples in burials in other parts of Eurasia for comparison. A copper alloy astragalus of ostensible Tibetan origin is examined, also supplying some insight into the ancient cultural status of this bone on the plateau. The article also investigates the role of astragali in Tibetan gaming, divination, tallying, ritual traditions, and concepts of the sacred. Finally, attention is turned towards crosscultural aspects of the utility and symbolism of ovicaprid astragali and what they might tell us about the nature and extent of transcultural exchange in Eurasia in the Late Prehistoric era (ca. 1200 BCE to 600 CE) and in historic times.

Research paper thumbnail of Chapter 1. Discovering the First Civilization of Tibet

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Chapter 6. Penetrating the Earth: The Burial Grounds of Zhang Zhung

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Chapter 10. My Ancestors, My Gods: Zhang Zhung Reigns in Contemporary Upper Tibet

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Chapter 7. Flesh, Blood, and Bones in Stone: The Artistic Treasures of Zhang Zhung

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of The Dawn of Tibet

Research paper thumbnail of Chapter 9. Horned Heroes and Turquoise Maidens: The Cultural Life of Zhang Zhung

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Chapter 5. Touching the Sky: The Citadels and Temples of Zhang Zhung

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Chapter 2. The Great Sky Realm: The Land of Upper Tibet

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Chapter 8. Father Sky Eagle and Mother Earth Serpent: The Religion of Zhang Zhung

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of A Comprehensive Survey of Rock Art in Upper Tibet: Volume II

Focusing on the central and western parts of the region, this is the second in a series of five v... more Focusing on the central and western parts of the region, this is the second in a series of five volumes that comprehensively document rock art in Upper Tibet. It examines a panoply of graphic evidence found on stone surfaces, supplying an unprecedented view of the long-term development of culture and religion on a large swathe of the Tibetan Plateau. The pictographs (rock paintings) and petroglyphs (rock carvings), host sites, and descriptions and analyses presented are the direct result of intensive fieldwork conducted by the author in Upper Tibet between 1995 and 2016. Information on rock art production techniques, subject identification, thematic class, mode of presentation, physical condition, estimated age, and relative location are supplied for each piece of rock art. In addition to the datasets, the book offers rock art site descriptions and assesses the cultural, religious and artistic development of these locations.

Research paper thumbnail of Chapter 4. From Sky to Earth: The History of Zhang Zhung

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Indexes

Spirit-mediums, Sacred Mountains and Related Bon Textual Traditions in Upper Tibet

Research paper thumbnail of Part Three: The Mountain and Lake Deities of the Spirit-Mediums

Spirit-mediums, Sacred Mountains and Related Bon Textual Traditions in Upper Tibet, 2005

Research paper thumbnail of A Comprehensive Survey of Rock Art in Upper Tibet. Volume II. Central and Western Byang thang

Cover: Overlooking the north side of Da rog mtsho. The large peninsula that seems to be named Sle... more Cover: Overlooking the north side of Da rog mtsho. The large peninsula that seems to be named Sle dmar chen is on the right side of photograph and the island of Do rta sga is on the left. Both these locations support archaic residential edifices and other types of early structures, all of which are now in a state of ruin. This photograph was taken in the winter when the lake surface was frozen. Spine: Outline of Inv. no. S30_L1_C44: wild yak. Iron Age. Cat35.

Research paper thumbnail of A Comprehensive Survey of Rock Art in Upper Tibet. Volume I. Eastern Byang thang

Research paper thumbnail of Facsimiles of the Earliest Ritual Architecture on the Plateau A Comprehensive Survey of Stepped Shrines in the Rock Art of Upper Tibet

click on the small image for full screen image with captions.) Site Number Site Name County Type ... more click on the small image for full screen image with captions.) Site Number Site Name County Type 1 Brag gdong East Ru thog Petroglyph 2 Ser mdzod rdo ring Ru thog Petroglyph 3 Rwa 'brog 'phrang Ru thog Petroglyph

Research paper thumbnail of Zenpar Final

Research paper thumbnail of Object 2 Chu thags golden mask 2023 Final

Research paper thumbnail of Object 1 A lci rock art 2023 Final

Research paper thumbnail of Knucklebones JOT

Through archeological and ethnographic sources this article furnishes a comprehensive perspective... more Through archeological and ethnographic sources this article furnishes a comprehensive perspective on the Tibetan cultural purposes of the ovicaprid ankle bone called astragalus or knucklebone. It sets forth criteria for the identification of culturally significant astragali in Tibetan tombs and assesses the functional implications of examples in burials in other parts of Eurasia for comparison. A copper alloy astragalus of ostensible Tibetan origin is examined, also supplying some insight into the ancient cultural status of this bone on the plateau. The article also investigates the role of astragali in Tibetan gaming, divination, tallying, ritual traditions, and concepts of the sacred. Finally, attention is turned towards crosscultural aspects of the utility and symbolism of ovicaprid astragali and what they might tell us about the nature and extent of transcultural exchange in Eurasia in the Late Prehistoric era (ca. 1200 BCE to 600 CE) and in historic times.

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