Prehistoric Britain - Hardcover

Darvill, Timothy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0300039514 ISBN 13: 9780300039511

Publisher: Yale Univ Pr, 1987

Synopsis

Publisher's statement: "Britain has been inhabited by man for nearly half a million years, during which time there have been a great many changes in lifestyles and in its surrounding landscape. In this book Timothy Darvill makes use of available archeological evidence to examine the development of human societies in Britain from earliest times to the Roman Conquest. Darvill gives special attention to six themes that are traced through all phases of prehistory: subsistence, technology, ritual, trade, society, and population. He first presents the background to prehistoric studies in Britain, in terms of the development of interest in the subject and the changes wrought by new techniques (such as radiocarbon dating) and new theories (such as the emphasis on social archaeology.) He then traces the development of society from the hunter-gatherer groups of the last Ice Age, through the development of farming, the introduction of metalworking, and on to the rise of highly organized societies living on the fringes of the mighty Roman Empire in the first century A.D.Throughout, emphasis is given to documenting and explaining changes within the prehistoric communities, and to exploring the regional variations found around Britain. In this way the evidence that can be seen in the British countryside and in museums is placed firmly in its proper context. Darvill rounds off his study with a review of the effects of prehistoric communities on life today. With over 100 illustrations, this is a unique review of Britain's ancient past as revealed by modern archaeology."

About this title

About the Author:

Timothy Darvill was born and brought up in Gloucestershire. He was educated in Cheltenham, and at Southampton University where he obtained an honours degree in Archaeology. His postgraduate research focused on the Neolithic period in Wales and the West of England. Between 1983 and 1985 he worked for the Western Archaeological Trust and the Council for British Archaeology before establishing himself as a freelance consultant. More recently he has been appointed to the BPF Chair of Property Development and Archaeology at Bournemouth University. A Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and a former Chairman of the Institute of Field Archaeologists, Professor Darvill is a nominated member of the Council of the National Trust and a Director of the Cotswold Archaeological Trust Ltd. Other publications include: The Archaeology of the Uplands (1986) and Ancient Monuments in the Countryside (1987).

Review:

'This is the first book for a decade in which prehistoric Britain has been tackled by a single author with a single vision. It is readable throughout and has excellent and wide-ranging illustrations. This is an admirable guide for anyone who wishes to see the current state of prehistory in Britain.' - Current Archaeology

'Excellent and readable, and informed by a love of the land.' - Financial Times

'A lively up-to-date introduction.' - Oxbow News

'With a wide-ranging bibliography and index, Darvill's book provides a pleasing introduction to the story of British prehistory.' - TLS

'Tim Darvill has shown that there is always a place for a well-written account of the subject that makes effective use of modern approaches.' - British Archaeological News

'...an attractive, appropriately priced and well-pitched volume...' - - Antiquity

About this edition

• Publisher: Yale Univ Pr
• Publication date: 1987
• ISBN 10: 0300039514
• ISBN 13: 9780300039511
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 223