Description
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!
