Author: Mark Edmonds
Number Of Pages: 352
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Release Date: 03-10-2019
Details: Product description The Orcadian archipelago is a museum of archaeological wonders. Its largest island, Mainland, is home to some of the oldest and best-preserved Neolithic sites in Europe, the most famous of which are the passage grave of Maeshowe, the megaliths of Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar and the village of Skara Brae – evidence of a dynamic society with connections binding Orkney to Ireland, to southern Britain and to the western margins of continental Europe. Despite 150 years of archaeological investigation, however, there is much that we do not know about the societies that created these sites. What historical background did they emerge from? What social and political interests did their monuments serve? And what was the nature of the links between Neolithic societies in Orkney and elsehwere? Following a broadly chronological narrative, and highlighting different lines of evidence as they unfold, Mark Edmonds traces the development of the Orcadian Neolithic from its beginnings in the early fourth millennium BC through to the end of the period nearly two thousand years later. Juxtaposing an engaging and accessible narrative with beautifully evocative photographs of Orkney and its monuments, he uses artefacts, architecture and the wider landscape to recreate the lives of Neolithic communities across the region. Review 'A thought-provoking, imaginative exploration of the archeological landscapes of Neolithic Orkney ... Edmonds demonstrates so vividly, "a stone is rarely just a stone" BBC Countryfile. Book Description A lyrical account of the prehistory and archaeology of the Orkney archipelago, and a uniquely appealing fusion of archaeological, historical and topographic writing, rooted in knowledge of and deep affection for one of the most ancient and distinctive landscapes in the British Isles. About the Author Mark Edmonds held the second Anniversary Chair of Archaeology at York University. He took his first degree in archaeology at Sheffield, before pursuing his PhD at Reading. He is the author of The Beauty Things, a record of conversations with Alan Garner, and Stonework (with Rose Ferraby).
EAN: 9781788543446
Package Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
Languages: English
Binding: Hardcover
Item Condition: New