56 pp,30 ills. This book examines the weapons and battle tactics of the Celtic tribes of Britain and Europe from the fifth to the first century BC using both documentary and archaeological evidence. The writings of several classical authors give valuable information about the impact of the 'barbarian tribes' on the Roman world, telling us about the stature of the warriors, their skills in chariotry and their bombastic manner. as well as offering vivid accounts of combats between champions. With both line drawings and photographs, the book illustrates the main categories of weapons, shields, swords, spears and helmets, as well as some of the more unusual equipment such as mail. William F. Ritchie was the Principal Teacher of Classics and later Deputy Rector at Arbroath High School, Angus and is a member of the Scottish Classics Group. Graham Ritchie has been on the staff of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland since 1965 and is now Head of Archaeology.

56 pp, 44 ills. During the fifth and sixth centuries AD a magnificent art flowered in Britain and Ireland. Arguably it was the most accomplished ever to emerge out of barbarian Europe. The art is astonishing, exuberant yet based on careful geometric layout. First developed in Britain, it reached its greatest heights in Ireland from the seventh century onwards and was revitalised by the Vikings, to survive in both Ireland and Britain until the Normans. This book, which was the first to deal exclusively with the art of the period in both Britain and Ireland, discusses both metalwork and manuscripts, and sets them in the wider perspective of the artistic traditions of the time. Lloyd Laing is Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at Nottingham University. He has researched many aspects of art and archaeology; his main concern has been the early Christian Celts.

72 pp, 35 ills. This book covers all the great tombs of the first farmers in Britain, both the earthen mounds and the huge stone chambers. The dramatic stone monuments of Scotland, Wales, Cornwall and the Cotswolds and the less awe-inspiring earth and timber megalithic tombs and long barrows of southern and north-eastern England are described and illustrated with plans and photographs. The various regional groups are defined and described in a series of short, well-illustrated sections and the book ends with a list of sites to visit covering monuments of each type in all parts of Britain. Frances Lynch is a lecturer in archaeology at the University of Wales, Bangor, and has written several books for the general public on the archaeology of North Wales.

64 pp, 38 ills. Around six thousand years ago major changes occurred in the human occupation of the British Isles, marking the beginning of one of the most fascinating periods in prehistory. Previous lifestyles dependent upon hunting, fishing and gathering were replaced by ones reliant to some degree on horticulture and the keeping of domestic livestock. The sudden appearance of agriculture is only one part of the neolithic story. It was also a time when novel ways of living in and understanding the world developed. The period also marks the advent of new technologies (such as the production of pottery) and new ideologies, seen in the construction of major ceremonial monuments to the living and the ancestral dead. Drawing upon recent discoveries and research, this book provides an introductory outline of the British neolithic (covering the period c.4000–2500 BC). Aspects of social life and belief are described, along with discussion of the material culture of neolithic communities, and the spectacular evidence of the ceremonial monuments they constructed. Joshua Pollard is a lecturer in Archaeology and Prehistory at the University of Wales College, Newport. He is currently co-director of a major fieldwork project investigating the late neolithic monument complex at Avebury, Wiltshire.

64 pp, 28 ills. This book examines some of the most spectacular ancient monuments in Britain – the iron age brochs of north and west Scotland. It sets the building of these unique fortifications into context and examines some of the theories that have been proposed for their origins and development. (There is a short section on what brochs are not - including 'Pictish' towers.) A select gazetteer of some of the most important brochs is followed by a list of museums in which representative artefacts are preserved. Graham Ritchie is Head of Archaeology at the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.

120 pp, 50 ills. This handbook is a comprehensive guide to almost 700 of the best-preserved, most interesting and accessible prehistoric monuments considered worth visiting in England. It spans some 350,000 years and the sites range from caves occupied in the palaeolithic period to the oppida built immediately before the Roman conquest. The sites are arranged by counties in alphabetical order, and instructions for finding them with National Grid references are given throughout. Location maps and some site plans, together with many photographs, complete a detailed guide to the wealth of prehistoric field monuments in England.

64 pp, 37 ills. Environmental archaeology is is the study of the physical environment in which people lived and includes the study of soils, food sources and animal bones. It also includes the study of the people themselves, from their skeletal remains. This is known as physical anthropology and, like any other aspect of environmental archaeology, is very specialised. This book describes in simple terms the various procedures used by the specialist. The effects of different burial conditions and rituals on the bones are explained, and ways of excavation and treatment are suggested. The human skeleton is described, as are methods of recording and analysis. The effects of accident and disease on the skeleton are included, and examples from various groups of skeletons are discussed. The numerous illustrations show the reader what to look for, and a comprehensive reading list is included. Dr Ann Stirland is a freelance consultant anthropologist and palaeopathologist who lectures to a wide range of audiences about her work and has studied many groups of skeletons.

56 pp, 32 ills. Archaeologists, astronomers and anthropologists have been arguing about the purpose of prehsitoric stone circles for over 300 years. This book describes these abandoned rings, including Stonehenge, and explains the history and facts known about them. It shows how we are gradually coming to an understanding of the significance these gaunt, grey circles had to their builders. Aubrey Burl, a well-known archaeologist, has always been interested in the early societies of prehistoric Britain, and his Stone Circles of the British Isles is recognised as the standard work on the subject.

72 pp, 47 ills. Growing enthusiasm for handspinning and weaving as studio crafts and increasing awareness on the part of archaeologists of the value of organic materials for reconstructing economic history have led to much wider interest in archaeological textiles. Although textiles are not common finds, textile implements are, and this book shows how both contribute to our appreciation of a skilled and universal ancient craft. Geographically this book is concerned with Britain and Europe and in time ranges from the neolithic to the medieval period. The processes of spinning and weaving are explained and illustrated and the reader is taken step by step through early textile manufacture. Unusual textile terms are explained and illustrated in a glossary. Attention is drawn to good collections of archaeological textiles and early textile apparatus and there is a reading list. John Peter Wild is an Honorary Research Fellow in Archaeology in the Department of Archaeology of the university and has written widely on many aspects of ancient textiles.

128 pp, 78 ills. This book outlines the history of man in England and Wales from earliest times to the Norman Conquest and explains the basic terminology of archaeology, the methods used by archaeologists and the ways in which one can take part in excavations. For many, visiting the tombs and hillforts of prehistoric times, the villas of the Romans and the churches of the Saxons brings history to life and brings one face to face with the past. James Dyer is a freelance archaeologist and writer. He taught archaeology for a great many years and was a principal lecturer in archaeology at a college of education. He is general editor of the Shire Archaeology series.

64 pp, 50 ills. The knowledge of metallurgy, first developed in the Near East, spread to most parts of Europe by 2000 BC. This book examines the distribution of sites and their geological background. All aspects of early mining technology are covered, from the initial discovery of copper minerals to their extraction and concentration using primitive techniques. It considers the daily life of the miners, the dangers they faced, their settlement background and ritual beliefs. Recent research on the most important sites, some of which can be visited today, is contained here.