Archaeological sites Books

Book SynopsisWar, revolution and love - dazzling medieval history from a rising starWar, revolution, treason and love - the thrilling tale of Sir John of Gaunt brought to life by medieval history''s rising star. ‘The Red Prince announces Helen Carr as one of the most exciting new voices in narrative history.’ Dan Jones Son of Edward III, brother to the Black Prince, father to Henry IV and the sire of all the Tudors. Always close to the English throne, John of Gaunt left a complex legacy. Too rich, too powerful, too haughty… did he have his eye on his nephew’s throne? Why was he such a focus of hate in the Peasants’ Revolt? In examining the life of a pivotal medieval figure, Helen Carr paints a revealing portrait of a man who held the levers of power on the English and European stage, passionately upheld chivalric values, pressed for the Bible to be translated into English, patronised the arts, ran huge risks Trade Review‘In Shakespeare’s Richard II, John of Gaunt gives the “this scepter’d isle… this England” speech. This vivid history brings to life his princely ambitions and passion.’ -- The Times, Best Books of 2021‘Helen Carr has captured the drama of [John of Gaunt’s] life and the tensions inherent in it in a compelling portrait. In so doing, she reminds us of the contradictions of a period remote from our own, not just in time but in values and beliefs too… Carr has brought to life one of the major figures of medieval England.’ -- Linda Porter, Literary Review‘The Red Prince is not…just a book of battles and wars. Carr’s John of Gaunt is a man who loved as passionately as he fought… Carr’s sensitive use of contemporary sources paints a poignant deathbed scene… in The Red Prince it is the towering figure of John of Gaunt, a thoroughly European Englishman, who takes centre stage and it’s a stirring and memorable performance.’ -- Leanda de Lisle, The Times‘Helen Carr is a really exciting new talent in the world of history writing, whose work strikes a perfect balance between lucidity and scholarship. Her debut, The Red Prince, is a beautifully nuanced portrait of an oft misunderstood man.’ -- Rebecca Rideal, author of 1666: Plague, War and Hellfire‘Superb, gripping and fascinating, here is John of Gaunt and a cast of kings, killers and queens brought blazingly, sensitively and swashbucklingly to life. An outstanding debut.’ -- Simon Sebag Montefiore‘A long overdue reappraisal of one of medieval England’s greatest but most enigmatic figures. The Red Prince announces Helen Carr as one of the most exciting new voices in narrative history.’ -- Dan Jones, author of the Plantagenets and The Hollow Crown‘Helen Carr is one of the most exciting and talented young historians out there. She has a passion for medieval history which is infectious and is always energetic and engaging, whether on the printed page or the screen.’ -- Dan Snow‘Deploying vivid and compelling prose alongside her considerable scholarship, Helen Carr fully succeeds in restoring John of Gaunt to his rightful place – in the first rank of medieval princes. This is an excellent book, that brings the fourteenth century back to life through a thoughtful parade of intriguing characters – none more fascinating than John of Gaunt himself.’ -- Charles Spencer, bestselling author of Blenheim and Killers of the King‘John of Gaunt is a name to conjure with – an English duke who sought to become a king in Spain, a complicated, controversial man to whom, as “time-honour’d Lancaster”, Shakespeare gives one of his greatest speeches. Helen Carr puts him centre stage: The Red Prince is the rattling good story of a life lived on an epic scale, told with care, insight and humanity.’ -- Helen Castor, author of She-Wolves and Joan of Arc‘Helen Carr tells the gripping story of John of Gaunt’s dramatic and controversial career, from the wars he waged across Europe to the political intrigue and rebellion he faced at home, and above all the way in which his life was marked by profound love, and loss. This is an engaging and moving portrait of one of the leading figures of the Hundred Years War.’ -- Sophie Thérèse Ambler, author of The Song of Simon de Montfort‘This biography explores the motivations of a complex figure who, for years, skilfully moved through a world of chivalry, legislative machinations and enormous wealth… This is a compelling profile of a pivotal figure in English history.’ -- History Revealed‘His fame has faded in recent years but Helen Carr’s absorbing new biography returns him to his rightful place.’ -- Daily Mail‘An absorbing biography of one of the great figures of the English past.’ -- New European‘[The] opening reference is… typical of the nuances of Carr’s portrayal of an often-misunderstood figure… Carr presents an authoritative account, acknowledging all aspects of a complex character whose devotion to royal privilege was equally a convoluted illustration of his own interests.’ -- Emma J. Wells, TLS‘Helen Carr’s spellbinding and richly researched debut biography… looks at one of the major medieval figures in Britain with a fresh and appealing perspective… Carr tells his story with conviction and fascinatingly rich detail.’ -- Boisdale Life

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Book SynopsisLeading archaeologist Francis Pryor retells the story of King Arthur, legendary king of the Britons, tracing it back to its Bronze Age origins.The legend of King Arthur and Camelot is one of the most enduring in Britain''s history, spanning centuries and surviving invasions by Angles, Vikings and Normans. In his latest book Francis Pryor one of Britain's most celebrated archaeologists and author of the acclaimed Britain B.C.' and Seahenge' traces the story of Arthur back to its ancient origins. Putting forth the compelling idea that most of the key elements of the Arthurian legends are deeply rooted in Bronze and Iron Ages (the sword Excalibur, the Lady of the Lake, the Sword in the Stone and so on), Pryor argues that the legends'' survival mirrors a flourishing, indigenous culture that endured through the Roman occupation of Britain, and the subsequent invasions of the so-called Dark Ages.As in Britain B.C.', Pryor roots his story in the very landscape, from Arthur's Seat in EdinburTrade Review‘Controversial deceptively clever and a damn good read.’ BBC History Magazine Praise for ‘Britain B.C.’: ‘Francis Pryor has given us a remarkable, imaginative and persuasive account of those other Britons…its enthusiastic and confident approach deserves to be very influential.’ TLS ‘A compulsive narrative intertwining prehistory, the excitement of discovery and personalities. It bounds along, wonderfully enlivened by Pryor’s earthy enthusiasm.’ New Scientist Praise for ‘Seahenge’: ‘A magnificent book…a vivid story, superbly told. It gives a wonderfully clear explanation of how archaeology works, written in plain language which all can understand and enjoy.’ Magnus Magnusson

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Book Synopsis'Richardson writes beautifully about his return to the land, about listening to the soil and about understanding the ancient world.' - The Spectator Each new field is hope, each old one reality.There are things below the surface that pull people together in a shared love of history, landscape and the hope that, this time, something incredible will be unearthed.When a travel writer is stuck on home soil in the middle of a pandemic he tries his hand at metal detecting - and is instantly addicted. This all-consuming hobby takes him around the country, back through history and deep into the psyches(his own included) of those hooked on 'happy bleeps'.The Accidental Detectorist is a big-hearted dig into a pastime sometimes mocked but always enticing.***When locked-down travel writer Nigel Richardson is looking for a travel story close to his country cottage he turns to a leading metal detectorist with an infectious passion for the hobby. Before he knows it the mysteries of the fields are leading him on, into a world that casts the history of these isles and its people in an intriguing new light.Sifting Britain's soil from Portsmouth to Edinburgh, Nigel yearns to lose his detectorist's virginity by finding a 'hammered' coin - while learning that the search for treasure comes with a serious responsibility to our common heritage. As he immerses himself further in the world of metal detecting, exposing the shady activities of 'nighthawks', attending rallies and making lifelong friends, a change comes over him. This country beneath his feet, these people who scour it for clues and tokens - they are the treasure he's been looking for.

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Book SynopsisAn authoritative and radical rethinking of the history of Ancient Britain and Ancient Ireland, based on remarkable new archaeological finds.British history is traditionally regarded as having started with the Roman Conquest. But this is to ignore half a million years of prehistory that still exert a profound influence. Here Francis Pryor examines the great ceremonial landscapes of Ancient Britain and Ireland Stonehenge, Seahenge, Avebury and the Bend of the Boyne as well as the discarded artefacts of day-to-day life, to create an astonishing portrait of our ancestors.This major re-revaluation of pre-Roman Britain, made possible in part by aerial photography and coastal erosion, reveals a much more sophisticated life in Ancient Britain and Ireland than has previously been supposed.Trade Review‘Written with pace and passion…immensely readable.’ Tom Holland, Daily Telegraph ‘It bounds along, wonderfully enlivened by Pryor’s earthy enthusiasm. If you want to be introduced painlessly to the fascinating debates surrounding our British past, then “Britain BC” is the book for you.’ Barry Cunliffe, New Scientist ‘Francis Pryor is a modern field archaeologist with a reputation second to none. He has written a book as successful and exciting as its ambition is huge…lucid and engaging.’ Alan Garner, The Times ‘There are enough curious facts, contentious theories and bizarre hypotheses here to hold the interest of anyone concerned with the unique and peculiar story of these islands.’ Independent on Sunday ‘Beautifully written, exciting and extremely good…an essential read.’ British Archaeology Praise for Francis Pryor’s television series ‘Britain BC’: ‘Fascinating…the evangelical Pryor paints a vivid portrait of pre-Roman society that tackles received wisdom about what was going on here in the Stone, Bronze and Iron ages.’ Daily Telegraph ‘Pryor leaps about the country at a cracking pace, his big personality making sure we never get bored by the scant and rarefied scraps that are his stock-in-trade.’ Observer

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Book SynopsisThe Great British Dig brings history and archaeology closer to home than ever before. Each week a team of archaeologists (led by presenter Hugh Dennis) descend on streets and gardens the length and breadth of the country to discover the treasures we have been living right on top of without realising. In this official tie-in book, on-screen expert Dr Chloë Duckworth digs deeper into the sites the show visited, as well as giving practical tips and advice for anyone who wants to have a go themselves. Uncovering a lost world of human stories just a few shovelfuls beneath our feet, Chloë explores the team’s techniques in fascinating detail, offering new insights and explanations about the discoveries made. As well as revealing the actual frontier of the Roman Empire in Britain, the Tudor palace of an Elizabethan spymaster, a revolutionary Victorian prison, a Second World War military base, and a prehistoric village under a school playing field, Chloë includes lots of information for anyone wanting to give it a go themselves. The book is packed with features, tip boxes and practical advice about digging in your own back garden, researching your local area for clues about what might have been there centuries ago, and dating things you may find. Highly illustrated, the book includes images never seen on screen, as well as archive photos and illustrations that bring history to life, and identification guides to bones, pottery, tools, coins and other things you might come across yourself. Foreword by Hugh Dennis, presenter of The Great British Dig.Trade ReviewA beautiful book, bursting with accounts of archaeological digs, practical information and rich historical context. It will be treasured by fans of history and archaeology. * Dan Snow, historian and TV presenter *My first brush with the wonderful world of archaeology was, as a child, discovering tiny pieces of pottery in my own back garden. With excavations in gardens all over the UK, this book reveals the astonishing breadth of British archaeology – in a brilliantly accessible way. * Professor Alice Roberts, anthropologist, author and TV presenter *This book gives a brilliant blow-by blow account of how archaeologists approach excavations. By using a combination of science, interpretation and research it clearly shows how the process of archaeological digging actually happens – and doubles up as a ‘how-to’ guide. * Raksha Dave, President of the Council for British Archaeology *BOOK OF THE MONTH - With fascinating explorations of sites from the show and advice on your own findings, The Great British Dig will help you to explore the fascinating history that can be found close to home. * Countryside magazine *A joy to read. Beautifully presented and crammed with colour photos. Duckworth’s brightly conversational prose zips along, offering behind-the-scenes insights and dashes of humour. * Current Archaeology *An accessible and engaging introductory handbook - a no-nonsense guide that is bound to get you thinking like an archaeologist and make you want to dive into some muddy detective work in no time. * Minerva *An engaging, accessible introduction to practical archaeology, and arms the home enthusiast with the knowledge to start their own dig. * Who Do You Think You Are? magazine *A good archaeological primer. * British Archaeology *Visually splendid. Enthusiastically written. Easy to follow. Lots of practical advice. Ground-breaking stuff. * Best of British *Practical advice… a must-read for fans of the series. * This England *This book acts as a great reminder of why many of us fall for archaeology in the first place…an accessible and engaging introductory handbook * Minerva *Table of ContentsForeword by Hugh Dennis Introduction DIG 1: Cosmopolitan Romans (Benwell, Newcastle Upon Tyne) Identification guide: Roman and prehistoric ceramics Practical guide 1: Gathering your tools DIG 2: Medieval Life and Death (Masham, Yorkshire) Practical guide 2: Researching your local area DIG 3: Rebellious Monks (Lenton, Nottingham) DIG 4: War and Peace (Trow Point, South Shields) Identification guide: Coins Practical guide 3: Digging legally and safely DIG 5: From Mill to POW Camp (Oldham, Greater Manchester) Identification guide: Porcelain and its imitations DIG 6: The Final Frontier (Falkirk, Stirlingshire) Identification guide: Glass bottles Practical guide 4: Laying out your trench DIG 7: The Conquerors’ Castle (West Derby, Liverpool) Identification guide: Medieval ceramics Practical guide 5: All about soil DIG 8: Gardens of Power (Beningbrough, York) Identification guide: Metal small finds Practical guide 6: Excavating finds and features DIG 9: Poverty and Redemption (Oswestry, Shropshire) Identification guide: Clay pipes DIG 10: Out on the Grange (Biggin Hall, Coventry) DIG 11: Crime and Punishment (Devizes, Wiltshire) Practical guide 7: Recording your findings DIG 12: Royalists and Parliamentarians (King’s Lynn, Norfolk) Identification guide: Animal bones DIG 13: The Spymaster’s House (Odiham, Hampshire) Practical guide 8: Caring for finds DIG 14: Prehistoric Mysteries (Stretton, East Staffordshire) Practical guide 9: Carry on digging!

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Book SynopsisChedworth is one of the few Roman villas in Britain whose remains are open to the public, and this book seeks to explain what these remains mean. The fourth century in Britain was a ‘golden age’ and at the time the Cotswolds were the richest area of Roman Britain.

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Book SynopsisDeep in the heart of North Yorkshire, at a place called Walkington Wold, there lies a rather unusual burial ground, an Anglo-Saxon execution cemetery. Twelve skeletons were unearthed by archaeologists, ten without skulls, later examination of the skeletons revealed that their owners were all subjected to judicial execution by decapitation, one of which required several blows. Similar fates have befallen other wretched souls, the undignified burial of suicides - in the Middle Ages, the most profound of sins - and the desecration of their bodies, go largely unrecorded. Whilst plague pits, vast cemeteries where victims of the Black Death were tossed into the ground, their bodies festering one on top of another, are only today betraying their secrets. Although unpalatable to some, these burial grounds are an important part of our social heritage. They have been fashioned as much by the people who founded and used them, as by the buildings, gravestones and other features which they contain. They are records of social change; the symbols engraved upon individual memorials convey a sense of inherent belief systems, as they were constructed, adapted or abandoned depending on people's needs. Symbols of Mortality explores how these attitudes, practices and beliefs about death have undergone continual change. By studying the development of society's funerary spaces, the author will reveal how we continue to reinforce our relationships with the dead, in a constant and on-going effort to maintain a bond with them.

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Book SynopsisClachtoll broch is one of the most spectacular Iron Age settlements on the northern mainland of Scotland. When it became clear that the structure was threatened by coastal erosion, community heritage group Historic Assynt launched a major programme of conservation and excavation works designed to secure the vulnerable structure and recover the archaeological evidence of its occupation and use. The resulting excavation provided evidence of a long and complex history of construction and rebuilding, with the final, middle Iron Age occupation phase ending in a catastrophic fire and collapse of the tower by the early years of the first century AD. The internal deposits span perhaps 50 years of the broch’s final occupation and were remarkably well preserved, with no evidence for secondary re-use or disturbance after the fire. As a result, the excavation provides a remarkable snapshot of life in Iron Age Scotland, with an artefact assemblage attesting to daily agricultural life as well as long-range contacts that sets the broch within a wider Atlantic community. Specialist analysis of the artefactual and palaeoenvironmental evidence coupled with detailed analysis of the structure in its local geographical context combine to provide a major new contribution to the archaeology of north-west Scotland, with wider implications for our understanding of late prehistoric society in northern Britain.This report comprises the results of the archaeological investigations at Clachtoll, compiled by a team of archaeologists and specialists from AOC Archaeology Group, and brings together evidence from a range of specialist analyses as well as environmental and landscape investigations.Table of ContentsPreface Introduction and research context The structure and excavations Chronology Artefacts -Ceramics -Residues -Organics -Metals -Slag -Stone -Worked bone -Wood Environmental evidence -Animal bone -Fish bone -Bird bone -Marine shell -Plant macrofossils Soil micromorphology Intrasite analysis Environmental context Clashnessie dun Split Rock dun Loch na Claise crannog Discussion and conclusion

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Book SynopsisGudme: The Iron Age Settlement and Central Halls presents, describes and interprets the many finds and structures that have been comprised during the extended excavations at the central parts of the Gudme locality on southeast Funen, Denmark. Head of excavation Palle Østergaard Sørensen extracts, combines, classifies, dates and temporalizes the many finds and houses from the excavations Gudmehallerne, Gudme III, Gudme IV.Since the 19th century the Gudme area has been known as one of the richest prehistoric localities in Scandinavia, and more than 1,000 roman coins, close to 600 fibulas as well as several small mask and animal figurines form part of the Gudme find assemblage. From AD 200 to AD 600 the site expanded rapidly and covered as much as one square kilometre comprising up to 50 farmsteads. At the individual farms, specialized craftsmanship can be found and the debris and tools of gold- and silversmiths as well as bronze casting is abundant – here, bronze fragments, often from statues, imported from the Roman Empire form a distinct category of finds – bearing witness to a flourishing and innovative world of craftsmanship, as well as an extensive trade network.During this period the unique and monumental halls, with the largest being 47 m long and 10 m wide, dominated the hilltops east of Gudme lake. Just to the south a smaller building accompanied the large hall, and had been purposely demolished and rebuilt several times at the exact same spot. The unusually large entrances to the two adjoined buildings lead straight from one to the other, thus witnessing a duality of buildings that came to define the aristocratic localities throughout Scandinavia in the following 800 years. Hence, Gudme represents a starting point for a significant type of architectural ideal as well as a first generation of central places.Table of ContentsPreface I. Gudme – an introduction 1. The Gudme halls 2. Gudme III 3. Gudme IV 4. The house typology at Gudme and in the rest of the Danish area Abbreviations and general information Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThis Element aims to provide readers with a reflexive and comprehensive overview of what it is that archaeologists do. The goal is to shift the reader's perspective of archaeology away from seeing it as a primarily data gathering field, to a clearer understanding of how archaeologists make and use the data they uncover.Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Telling stories about places; 2. Telling stories about things; 3. Telling stories about time; 4. Telling stories about people; 5. Telling stories that change the world; Conclusion; Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisFrom Edessa to Urfa: the Fortification of the Citadel is the outcome of an archaeological research project focused on a specific monumental area in the city of Urfa: its citadel. Urfa is better known to the general reader by its ancient name, Edessa. Three seasons of fieldwork were carried out (2014-2016), concentrating on the study of the evidence preserved above ground and employing the methods of stratigraphic analysis to identify the building sequence of the citadel and to characterise the various building phases. Transformation of the relative sequence into absolute chronology depended primarily on inscriptions in situ, but also on typological elements (masonry type, decorative elements, specific architectural forms). Data from the written sources also contributed relevant information regarding the development of the fortification works and the establishment of an absolute sequence.Trade Review'Tonghini effectively sheds much light on the technological development of military architecture, principally across the 7th to 15th centuries, during which time Urfa served as a strategic strongpoint in the continual tussle between different powers. Certainly this study helps fill notable gaps in our knowledge of Urfa and the citadel’s role, particularly as regards such issues as the potential impact of Armenian master-builders, and the previously littleknown importance of Mamluk influence on the citadel’s construction.' – Paul Newson (2023): Medieval Archaeology vol 67.1 Table of ContentsAbstract ; Özet (translated by O. Usta) ; Chapter 1: Introduction ; Part 1 The fortification of the citadel: the written sources ; Building and re-building: a summary of events ; Chapter 2: Edessa and its fortifications in Byzantine times (6th-11th centuries) (N. Zorzi) ; Chapter 3: The citadels and the city walls in the Syriac sources (E. Fiori) ; Chapter 4: Edessa in Armenian sources (T.L. Andrews) ; Chapter 5: The citadel of al-Ruhā’ in the Arabic sources: an overview ; Chapter 6: The fortifications of Edessa in medieval Latin sources (D. Pringle) ; Chapter 7: Ruhā in the Persian sources: an elusive presence (S. Cristoforetti) ; Chapter 8: The citadel of Urfa in the Ottoman written sources (O. Usta) ; Part 2 The inscriptions from the citadel ; Chapter 9: Notes on some Greek inscriptions from Edessa (N. Zorzi) ; Chapter 10: The Arabic inscriptions of the citadel of al-Ruhā’ (Urfa/Şanlıurfa) (R. Giunta) ; Part 3 The fortification of the citadel: the material evidence ; The archaeological analysis ; Chapter 11: The material evidence: Period 1 (post 3rd-6th centuries?) ; Chapter 12: The material evidence: Period 2 (post 6th-11th centuries?) ; Chapter 13: The material evidence: Period 3 (late 11th-12th centuries?) ; Chapter 14: The material evidence: Period 4 (13th-14th centuries) ; Chapter 15: The material evidence: Period 5 (15th century) ; Chapter 16: The material evidence: Period 6 (16th century) ; Chapter 17: The material evidence: Period 7 (17th century) ; Chapter 18: The material evidence: Periods 8 (18th-19th centuries) and 9 (post Ottoman to the present) ; Chapter 19: The masonry typology (with Technical Notes by J.-Cl. Bessac) ; Chapter 20: Conclusions ; Plates ; Appendix ; Bibliography

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Book SynopsisStratton, Biggleswade: 1,300 years of village life in eastern Bedfordshire from the 5th century AD presents the results of 12 hectares of archaeological excavation undertaken between 1990 and 2001. As well as uncovering roughly half of the medieval village, the investigations revealed that Stratton’s origins stretched back to the early Anglo-Saxon period, with the settlement remaining in continuous use through to c. 1700. In contrast to many of the other major excavations of Anglo-Saxon settlements, the evidence from Stratton provides insights into the lives of a low-status rural community, whose development can be traced over the course of more than a millennium. This book presents a chronological account of Stratton’s development; evidence for its economy, trading relations, industrial activities and agricultural landscape; and a discussion of how people lived and died there before the village was finally extinguished by the creation of the classic estate landscape of Stratton Park.Trade Review‘This report marks a useful interim stage in our understanding of Stratton. Now the accumulated data can be used to devise a clear picture of the settlement’s development with plans of each period which select the most important features.’ – Christopher Dyer (2022): Medieval Settlement Research, Vol. 37'Overall this is an invaluable report on a fascinating site, although it would have been useful to learn of the landscape as it was in the 19th century – including the Roman road that ran through the site and its two remnant moated manorial sites – as a background to the excavation plans.' – Stephen Rippon (2022): Medieval Archaeology, 66/2'...the volume's many contributors have made a significant contribution to medieval archaeology.' – Stephen Mileson (2023): Current Archaeology 391Table of ContentsPreface ; Summary ; Chapter 1. Introduction ; Introduction ; Location, topography and geology ; Project background and nature of the investigations ; Nature of the post-excavation analysis ; Nature of the phasing structure and contextual hierarchy ; Archaeological background ; Historical background ; Chapter 2. Pre-Settlement Landscape ; Neolithic to Bronze Age (Period 1) ; Early Iron Age (Period 2) ; Period 3 structural narrative (early Anglo-Saxon: c. AD 400–600) ; Period 3 artefacts ; Chapter 3. Early–Middle Anglo-Saxon Settlement ; Period 4 structural narrative (middle Anglo-Saxon: c. AD 600–850) ; Period 4 artefacts ; Chapter 4. Late Anglo-Saxon / Saxo-Norman settlement (Period 5: c. AD 850–1150) ; Period 5 structural narrative ; Artefacts ; Chapter 5. Medieval settlement (Period 6: c. AD 1150–1350) ; Period 6 structural narrative ; Artefacts ; Chapter 6. Late medieval to post-medieval settlement (Periods 7–8: c. AD 1350–1700) ; Period 7 structural narrative ; Period 7 artefacts ; Period 8 structural narrative ; Period 8 artefacts ; Chapter 7. Building forms ; Sunken-featured buildings (SFBs) ; Earthfast timber buildings ; Chapter 8. Overview of the artefacts ; Pottery ; Ceramic building material ; Other artefacts ; Chapter 9. The vegetational history of Stratton ; Introduction ; Woodland Resources ; The surrounding environment ; Cultivation of crops ; Conclusions ; Chapter 10. Faunal remains ; Introduction ; Animal exploitation at Stratton ; Cattle ; Sheep/Goat ; Pig ; Horse ; Dogs ; Cats ; Deer ; Hares and rabbits ; Other mammals ; Birds ; Amphibians and fish ; Chapter 11. Discussion ; Introduction ; Settlement origins, development and demise ; Farming economy, diet and the surrounding environment ; Manufacturing, consumption and exchange ; Death and burial ; Bibliography

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Book SynopsisAn equestrian burial from the 10th century with an exceptionally elaborate horse harness was discovered at Fregerslev near Skanderborg in eastern Jutland, Denmark in 2012. This formed the starting point for the Fregerslev Research Project initiated by Museum Skanderborg in 2017. Two years later, the museum held a conference to present the preliminary results of the project. A group of researchers from neighbouring countries were invited to provide a wider international context for a discussion of the social, political, cultural and religious background of the Fregerslev burial.With 21 articles, Horse and Rider in the late Viking Age presents the outcome of the conference. Part I describes the excavation of the Fregerslev burial and its contents. The finds, particularly the harness fittings and the remains of a quiver of arrows, and the results of a wide range of scientific analyses demonstrate what a remarkable burial this once was. The excavation methods and documentation procedures, the sampling strategies, and the following conservation and preservation of the finds, give an idea of the many new approaches, which may be useful when dealing with a decomposed grave in the future. Part II and Part III present new research on 10th-century equestrian burials and their significance in contemporary society from a variety of countries across Central and Northern Europe.Trade ReviewThe book is lavishly illustrated throughout, and a perfect companion to anyone wanting to understand the Scandinavian cultures of the early medieval period, who had such a profound effect on much of western Europe. The editors and the authors are to be commended on producing such an exemplary and refreshingly factual text on an overlooked subject. * Cheiron Journal *

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Book SynopsisThis is the story of the landfill that operated in Jerusalem during the first century CE and served as its garbage dump during the ca. 50-year period that followed Jesus’s crucifixion through to the period that led to the great revolt of the Jews just prior to the city’s destruction.The book presents an extensive investigation of hundreds of thousands of items that were systematically excavated from the thick layers of landfill. It brings together experts who conducted in-depth studies of every sort of material discarded as refuse—ceramic, metal, glass, bone, wood, and more. This research presents an amazing and tantalizing picture of daily life in ancient Jerusalem, and how life was shaped and regulated by strict behavioral rules (halacha). The book also explores why garbage was collected in Jerusalem in so strict a manner and why the landfill operated for only about 50 years. Half a century of garbage from Early Roman–period Jerusalem provides an abundance of new data and new insights into the ideological choices and new religious concepts emerging and developing among those living in Jerusalem at this critical moment. It is an eye-opener for archaeologists, historians, anthropologists, and theologians, as well as for the general reader.Trade Review“The studies in this volume provide a fascinating window into Early Roman Jerusalem by presenting the results of the meticulous excavation of a massive garbage dump on the southeastern slope of the City of David. The comprehensive and detailed analyses of the various categories of finds—including pottery, coins, stone vessels, glass, animal and fish bones, and wood—indicate the existence of an organized system of rubbish disposal, much of which appears to represent ordinary household waste. These studies therefore add a valuable new dimension to our understanding of daily life in late Second Temple Jerusalem.”—Jodi Magness,University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill“This book is a must read for everyone interested in the up-to-date topic of archaeo-garbology. Gadot and his team vividly demonstrate why ancient refuse is a strong proxy for identifying societal changes in the urban domain of Jerusalem during Roman times. This synthesis is a true goldmine of quantitative data that introduces us to the repertoire of vessels and the diet of the people in this large metropolis temple-city during one of its peak historical periods. It is these mundane leftovers that provide us with the facts and events of the daily life and economy of Jerusalemites 2000 years ago.”—Guy Bar-Oz,University of HaifaTable of ContentsPrefaceYuval GadotPart I: Introduction and StratigraphyChapter 1. IntroductionYuval GadotChapter 2. StratigraphyYuval GadotPart II: The FindsChapter 3. The PotteryHélène MachlineChapter 4. The Numismatic FindsYoav FarChapter 5. The Chalk VesselsYonatan AdlerChapter 6. The Glass FindsRuth E. Jackson-TalChapter 7.1 The Metal ArtifactsChen AntlerChapter 7.2 Report on Glassy Slag FragmentsShan Huang and Ian FreestoneChapter 8. The Plaster FragmentsLena Naama SharabiChapter 9. The Stone Scale-WeightsRonny ReichChapter 10. Miscellaneous FindsNissan Ben MelechPart III: Flora and FaunaChapter 11. Faunal RemainsAbra Spiciarich and Lidar Sapir-HenChapter 12. Fish RemainsOmri LernauChapter 13. Archaeobotanical AnalysisHelena Roth and Dafna LanggutChapter 14. Seeds, Grains, and Other Plant OrgansIlana Peters and Ehud WeissPart IV: Synthesis and SummaryChapter 15. Committing the Kidron’s Western Slopes to Garbage Disposal: Jewish Urbanism Under Roman HegemonyYuval GadotIndex of Loci

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Book Synopsis A century ago, the Old Vero Site was brought to prominence by Elias Sellards upon his claim that the site contained early human remains associated with Pleistocene fauna. It was the first serious challenge to the belief, widely accepted until the Folsom discoveries in 1926, that humans had not entered Florida before the current Holocene geological epoch. The claim that human remains at the site were contemporary with late Ice Age animals stirred enduring controversy. Recent construction near the site resulted in new archaeological work being completed from 2014 to 2017.The Old Vero Site (8IR009) details the course of the recent re-excavations of the Old Vero Site while also summarizing the original excavations from a century ago. Additionally, the volume lays out the sequence and results of the recent project, using these new data to assess the accuracy of Sellards’s assertions. This re-examination determined that Sellards’s claims are not supported by the evidence. Adovasio, Hemmings, and Vento provide the data to settle the matter definitively: human remains at the site were intrusive from a later time horizon, as critics of the original work had vociferously argued. Trade ReviewWith contributions by an eminent group of natural scientists, archaeologists, and others, this volume examines the Old Vero site, which was first excavated in the early 1900s and has since become integral to understanding scholarly debates on early people in the Western Hemisphere. It is thus an ideal location for exploring theories and databases about the role of these types of sites in early American life." —Tom Dillehay, Vanderbilt UniversityTable of Contents List of Figures List of Tables Acknowledgments 1. Introduction 2. General Setting 3. History of Research 4. Environmental Setting by A. J. Vega 5. Research Design and Excavation Methodology 6. Field Results 7. Material Culture and Ecological Remains 8. Conclusions Afterword Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Appendix F Appendix G Appendix H References List of Contributors

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