FILM REVIEWS zyxwv 489 zy KAREN E. STOTHERT University of Texas, San Antonio This film is composed of vintage (1946) color footage of the excavation of Huaca Prieta, Peru, a recent interview with the late Junius Bird, a brief segment featuring textiles from the collection of the Textile Museum, and some good sequences of Qeros Indians spinning and weaving. This tassel of thrums is loosely bound by the idea that warp-pattern weaves are characteristic of both the early pre- ceramic and modern textiles of Peru. Each of the parts of the film is inherently interesting, but the combination is often disjointed. The archeological portion of the film has no clear purpose and both the narration and foot- age offer too many isolated bits of information. The name of the site being excavated (Huaca Prieta) is not mentioned in the soundtrack. However, Bird’s description of mapping the movement of the yarns in the preceramic tex- tiles in order to reconstruct the warp-pattern figures is very engaging. An analysis of a twined textile is presented a t length while a woven textile fragment is shown but not ana- lyzed. The title of the film is deceptive because most of the history of Peruvian weaving is dis- patched in 45 seconds. While the narrator notes that techniques such as tapestry and brocade were developed in the 5000 years be- tween Huaca Prieta and the Spanish con- quest, the film shows a late pre-Columbian slit tapestry textile and a warp-faced plain weave tunic with discontinuous warps (both figured in Ann Pollard Rowe’s book, Warp-Patterned Weavesof the Andes zyxwvutsrqp 1977), then two unidentified textiles and several contemporary Qeros tex- tiles. However, the narrative does not follow the visual presentation closely, thus causing confusion. The most memorable part of the film is the ethnographic footage. We are treated to some good descriptions (both verbal and visual) of Qeros men and women spinning and plying yarn, but no distinction is made between al- paca hair and sheep’s wool, leaving the viewer unenlightened on the use of those fibers. The subject of dyeing is not mentioned, and al- though some attempt is made to introduce the techniques of weaving, that course is not pur- sued and much of the subsequent narration is aimed at weaving specialists. Regrettably the process of textile manufacture is not explored in a systematic fashion, thus producing a sense of disorganization. Despite these shortcomings, the film bears repeated viewing because the short weaving sequences are exciting and the narration is in- formative. In one segment a weaver is picking up warps to produce the design in a woman’s shawl. The technique is very complex and, ac- cording to Ann Pollard Rowe, without obvious pre-Columbian or European origins. In an- other outstanding sequence, two women set up and warp a four-stake horizontal loom in order to weave a discontinuous warp textile. Sadly the sequence ends with the termination of the warping-the weaving and finishing of the textile is not shown. Moreover, the sound- track may be in error on the subject of the function of the discontinuous warp cloth; for although such textiles are used for making bundles, they probably are preferred for wrap- ping things in ceremonial contexts. There is a leaflet circulated with the film which repeats some of the soundtrack and adds information as well as a short bibliog- raphy. According to this leaflet, the film shows the use of “a needle to guide the weft through the final passage after heddles and loom bars have been removed.” However, I could not identify this sequence in the film, although some textiles were being worked in their inte- rior portions. This film is flawed by its failure to explore any topic in depth, but it is enjoyable and use- ful if viewed in conjunction with readings on pre-Columbian and contemporary Peruvian weaving. It might also be shown to beginning students at the college level in order to illus- trate the variety of topics that interest anthro- pologists. zyxwv The Ritual zyx of the Mounds. 1984. Produced and directed by John Mtyer for the Tennessee Department of Conservation. 28 1/2 minutes, color. Purchase $250, rental $25 from the Ed- ucational Resource Center, Tennessee De- partment of Conservation, 701 Broadway, Nashville, T N 37203 (615/742-6567). JAMES A. BROWN JANE E. BUIKSTRA Northwestern University Although films offield expeditions are com- monplace, few have as their subject the exca- vation of a mound in the eastern United States, much less one that belongs to the Hopewellian period. This film records the 1983 season investigation into one of the Pin- son group mounds, recently discovered to be a splendid example of the little-known Hope- wellian presence in western Tennessee. The size of the mounds is extraordinary for the pe- riod: the main mound at this site stands 72 feet high, taller than any other known from the