Great Excavations: Shaping the Archaeological Profession
Great excavations inspire and capture the imagination of both the public and archaeologists alike; sites like Danebury, Sutton Hoo, Maiden Castle, Mucking and York conjure images of great discoveries and leaps in knowledge. But what was it like to participate in these excavations? What is the story of these projects, and what made them great? This is a fascinating and entertaining retrospective documenting some of the seminal British excavations, assessing why they were so significant and why they persist in the memory and folklore of archaeologists today. It is also a social history of the profession and one that should stir memories and dispel (or corroborate) some urban myths that younger archaeologists may be aware of. An impressive list of authors and projects make this a significant contribution to the history and development of British archaeology over the course of the twentieth century. Fourteen chapters describe specific projects: Sutton Hoo, Birdoswald, Maiden Castle, Winchester, Owslebury, Danebury, The Breiddin, Wroxeter, Haddenham, Howe, York, Mucking, West Heslerton and Wharram Percy; six further chapters provide a thematic overview, covering early excavations, the IFA, English Heritage and the commercial sector. The world of archaeology has changed dramatically over the past twenty-five years, not least in becoming a profession. One of the clear messages of this book is the requirement for archaeology that great excavations continue in the future, to inspire another generation of archaeologists. The scope of archaeology may have changed, and the methodologies with it. The politics of excavation have changed too, with a more commercially driven and professional endeavour. But it is still, typically, the direct physical engagement with earth, artefacts, place and people (of the past and the present) that draws us in. This is why excavations matter, and why they can be great.
1102173776
Great Excavations: Shaping the Archaeological Profession
Great excavations inspire and capture the imagination of both the public and archaeologists alike; sites like Danebury, Sutton Hoo, Maiden Castle, Mucking and York conjure images of great discoveries and leaps in knowledge. But what was it like to participate in these excavations? What is the story of these projects, and what made them great? This is a fascinating and entertaining retrospective documenting some of the seminal British excavations, assessing why they were so significant and why they persist in the memory and folklore of archaeologists today. It is also a social history of the profession and one that should stir memories and dispel (or corroborate) some urban myths that younger archaeologists may be aware of. An impressive list of authors and projects make this a significant contribution to the history and development of British archaeology over the course of the twentieth century. Fourteen chapters describe specific projects: Sutton Hoo, Birdoswald, Maiden Castle, Winchester, Owslebury, Danebury, The Breiddin, Wroxeter, Haddenham, Howe, York, Mucking, West Heslerton and Wharram Percy; six further chapters provide a thematic overview, covering early excavations, the IFA, English Heritage and the commercial sector. The world of archaeology has changed dramatically over the past twenty-five years, not least in becoming a profession. One of the clear messages of this book is the requirement for archaeology that great excavations continue in the future, to inspire another generation of archaeologists. The scope of archaeology may have changed, and the methodologies with it. The politics of excavation have changed too, with a more commercially driven and professional endeavour. But it is still, typically, the direct physical engagement with earth, artefacts, place and people (of the past and the present) that draws us in. This is why excavations matter, and why they can be great.
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Great Excavations: Shaping the Archaeological Profession

Great Excavations: Shaping the Archaeological Profession

Great Excavations: Shaping the Archaeological Profession
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Great Excavations: Shaping the Archaeological Profession

Great Excavations: Shaping the Archaeological Profession

Overview

Great excavations inspire and capture the imagination of both the public and archaeologists alike; sites like Danebury, Sutton Hoo, Maiden Castle, Mucking and York conjure images of great discoveries and leaps in knowledge. But what was it like to participate in these excavations? What is the story of these projects, and what made them great? This is a fascinating and entertaining retrospective documenting some of the seminal British excavations, assessing why they were so significant and why they persist in the memory and folklore of archaeologists today. It is also a social history of the profession and one that should stir memories and dispel (or corroborate) some urban myths that younger archaeologists may be aware of. An impressive list of authors and projects make this a significant contribution to the history and development of British archaeology over the course of the twentieth century. Fourteen chapters describe specific projects: Sutton Hoo, Birdoswald, Maiden Castle, Winchester, Owslebury, Danebury, The Breiddin, Wroxeter, Haddenham, Howe, York, Mucking, West Heslerton and Wharram Percy; six further chapters provide a thematic overview, covering early excavations, the IFA, English Heritage and the commercial sector. The world of archaeology has changed dramatically over the past twenty-five years, not least in becoming a profession. One of the clear messages of this book is the requirement for archaeology that great excavations continue in the future, to inspire another generation of archaeologists. The scope of archaeology may have changed, and the methodologies with it. The politics of excavation have changed too, with a more commercially driven and professional endeavour. But it is still, typically, the direct physical engagement with earth, artefacts, place and people (of the past and the present) that draws us in. This is why excavations matter, and why they can be great.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781842175705
Publisher: Oxbow Books
Publication date: 01/31/2011
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 368
File size: 30 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

John Schofield teaches Cultural Heritage Management and Archaeology at the University of York, where he is Head of the Archaeology Department. Prior to his appointment at York in 2010 John worked for English Heritage where he coordinated research and heritage protection activities for modern military sites in England. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, a member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists and has published extensively on heritage as well as conflict and contemporary archaeology.

Table of Contents

List of Contributors v

Preface ix

1 Greatness in depth: Why excavations matter John Schofield 1

2 Some notable British excavations before 1900 C. Stephen Briggs 12

3 Sutton Hoo - An archaeography Martin Carver 25

4 Great excavations enhanced - Birdoswald, Richborough, Whitby and the Chester amphitheatre Tony Wilmott 44

5 Aspiring to greatness: The recent excavations at Maiden Castle Niall Sharples 58

6 The urban revolution: Martin Biddle's excavations in Winchester, 1961-1971 John Collis 74

7 The rural revolution: Excavation of the Iron Age and Roman farming settlement at Owslebury, Hampshire, 1961-1972 John Collis 87

8 The Danebury decades Barry Cunliffe 104

9 South Cadbury, the Breiddin, the Rescue Archaeology Group … and then respectability Chris Musson 121

10 The legacy of Howe, thirty years after Beverley Ballin Smith 131

11 Writing into Land: Haddenham and the Lower Ouse environs Christopher Evans 148

12 Philip Barker's Wroxeter Paul Everill Roger White l67

13 'Erik Bloodaxe Rules OK': 'The Viking Dig' at Coppergate, York Richard Hall 181

14 The Manpower Services Commission and La Grava Evelyn Baker 194

15 Mucking: Real heritage heroism or heroic failure? Paul Barford 212

16 Growing up with Wharram Percy Bob Croft 231

17 West Heslerton: Past, present and future Dominic Powlesland 247

18 Great Expectations, great excavations: The view from the trenches Paul Everill 270

19 Great excavations, developer funding and the future David Jennings 279

20 What the Dickens happened to the IFA? Peter Hinton 289

21 Great Excavations? Geoff Wainwright 300

Index 303

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