Archaeology Hotspot Great Britain: Unearthing the Past for Armchair Archaeologists

The Archaeology Hotspots series offers reader-friendly and engaging narratives of the archaeology in particular countries. Written by archaeological experts with a general reader in mind, each book in the series focuses on what has been found and by whom, what the controversies and scandals have been, ongoing projects, and how it all fits into a broader view of the history of the country.

In Archaeology Hotspot Great Britain, expert Donald Henson first chronicles the deep archaeology of a long settled region—including England, Wales, and Scotland—then explores both the famously ancient finds (cave art at Creswell Crags, Stonehenge) and more recent and iconic historic sites and monuments (such as Westminster Abbey and Ironbridge Gorge). He profiles the often larger-than-life personalities and the previously-marginalized women who have contributed to British archaeology; the controversies influencing how we see the past are also highlighted. Henson considers London’s position in the antiquities trade and the safeguarding of heritage sites. As a whole, the book tells a fascinating story of Great Britain’s history, culture, national heritage, and ongoing role as a hotspot of archaeology.