The Archaeology of Britain: An Introduction from Earliest Times to the Twenty-First Century

by Vicki Cummings (Editor), Stephen Driscoll (Editor)

Overview

The Archaeology of Britain provides an up-to-date introduction to the archaeology of Britain from the reoccupation of the landmass by Homo sapiens during the later stages of the most recent Ice Age until last century.

This fully revised third edition offers expanded coverage and includes updates relating to the latest research and advances in scientific dating and other techniques. This includes the results of the latest analyses of ancient DNA, alongside new isotopic studies which enable insights into ancient diets. Each chapter, written by a leading authority, provides a detailed yet accessible introduction to various time periods and are supported by numerous illustrations of key sites and finds and a selective reference list to aid study in greater depth. As a comprehensive textbook for the entire archaeology of Britain, it reflects the most recent developments in archaeology both as a field subject and as an academic discipline.

No other book provides such comprehensive coverage, with such a wide chronological range, of the archaeology of Britain. This book is essential reading for undergraduates in archaeology, and all those interested in British archaeology, history and geography.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138333833
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	07/21/2025
Edition description:	3rd ed.
Pages:	492
Product dimensions:	6.88(w) x 9.69(h) x (d)

About the Author

Vicki Cummings is a Professor of Neolithic Archaeology at Cardiff University.

Stephen T. Driscoll is a Professor of Historical Archaeology at the University of Glasgow.

Table of Contents

List of contributors; 1 British Archaeology in the 21st century: an introduction; 2. The Palaeolithic Occupation of Britain 850,000 to 11,500 years ago; 3. Hunter-Gatherers of the Mesolithic; 4. The Early Neolithic; 5. The Middle and Late Neolithic; 6. The Early Bronze Age; 7. The Middle and Late Bronze Age; 8. The Iron Age; 9 Roman Britain: the military dimension; 10 Roman Britain: Civil; 11 Early Historic Britain; 12 Early Medieval Celtic Britain: The Early Historic Period; 13 Viking Britain; 14 Landscapes of the Middle Ages Towns 1050–1500; 15 Landscapes of the Middle Ages. Castles, churches and monasteries: the state, law, and belief; 16 Landscapes of the Middle Ages: Rural settlement and manors; 17 Britain From AD 1500 to 1830; 18 The Spoils Of Industry: The Archaeology Of The 18^th And 19^th Centuries; 19 The Plastic Age; 20 Britain’s historic environment: Our past in the present; Index.