Ancient Lives: Object, People and Place in Early Scotland, Essays for David V. Clarke on His 70th Birthday

Ancient Lives provides new perspectives on object, people and place in early Scotland and beyond. The 19 papers cover topics ranging from the Neolithic to the Medieval period, and from modern museum practice to ancient craft skills. The material culture of ancient lives is centre stage – how it was created and used, how it was rediscovered and thought about, and how it is displayed.
Dedicated to Professor David V Clarke, former Keeper of Archaeology in National Museums Scotland, on his 70th birthday, the book comprises three sections which reflect some of his many interests. “Presenting the past” offers perspectives on current museum practice, especially in relation to archaeological displays. “Ancient lives and multiple lives” looks at antiquarian approaches to the Scottish past and the work of a Scottish antiquary abroad, while “Pieces of the past” offers a series of authoritative case-studies on Scottish artifacts, as well as papers on the iconic site of Skara Brae and on the impact of the Roman world on Scotland.
With subjects ranging from Gordon Childe to the Govan Stones and from gaming pieces to Grooved Ware, this scholarly and accessible volume provides a showcase of new information and new perspectives on material culture linked, but not limited to, Scotland.

"Dr Fraser Hunter is Principal Curator in the Department of Scottish History and Archaeology at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Fraser’s research focuses on the Iron Age and Roman periods, and seeks to put Scottish finds into their European context.

Research interests include archaeological approaches to Celtic art, the carnyx in Iron Age Europe, hoarding practices, Iron Age material culture, and the impact of the Roman world. Recent publications include edited volumes on “A Roman frontier post and its people: Newstead 1911-2011” (with Lawrence Keppie, 2012), “Late Roman silver: the Traprain Treasure in context” (with Kenneth Painter; 2013), “Scotland in later prehistoric Europe” (with Ian Ralston; 2015) and “Celts: art and identity (with Julia Farley; 2015). Fraser has been a leading curator in creating the Celts exhibition at the British Museum and the National Museum of Scotland."

Alison Sheridan is emerita Principal Curator of Early Prehistory with National Museums Scotland and specialises in British and Irish Neolithic pottery and in the Neolithic period in this archipelago more generally.