Most English and Welsh towns were founded or grew rapidly in the later medieval period, in particular between the mid twelfth and early fourteenth centuries. This book begins by giving a brief outline of the great growth in the number and size of towns and outlines the archaeological, documentary and cartographic evidence that is available. It then goes on to relate that evidence to surviving and lost features in the townscape, with the aim of providing enough background material for the reader to be able to see why, when, where and how any medieval town grew. Particular topics covered...
Most English and Welsh towns were founded or grew rapidly in the later medieval period, in particular between the mid twelfth and early fourteenth cen...
Almost every Roman site in Britain seemed to have had its baths. They needed to be strongly built and to a large extent were constructed below contemporary ground level. As a result the remains of Roman baths have resisted demolition and subsequent damage by the plough. The purpose of this book is to explain how Roman baths came to be built, how they were constructed, how they were used and how they worked. About the author Tony Rook is a building technologist and an Extramural Tutor in Archaeology. His many reports include that on Dicket Mead, the Roman villa whose baths he...
Almost every Roman site in Britain seemed to have had its baths. They needed to be strongly built and to a large extent were constructed below cont...
Amongst the most common of all British ancient monuments are those known rather misleadingly as hillforts. Whilst more than a thousand can be recognised in southern Britain, not all of them are on hill tops nor can they be identified as forts. The author considers these points in particular when he tries to assess the function and situation of hillforts, asking the questions 'When were they built?', 'By whom?' and 'Why?' The book considers the nature of the defences, the design of their entrances and thoughts on the internal design of these monuments, some of which are most spectacularly...
Amongst the most common of all British ancient monuments are those known rather misleadingly as hillforts. Whilst more than a thousand can be recog...
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 impressive sites that may still be visited, including the brochs of Mousa and Clickhimin in Shetland and Carolway on Lewis. 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. There is a short bibliography.
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...
Many of Britain's towns and cities originated in the Roman period, established as part of a systematic programme to urbanise the island. Why imperial Rome initiated this programme is the first of many topics examined in the third edition of this introduction to the towns of Roman Britain.
Many of Britain's towns and cities originated in the Roman period, established as part of a systematic programme to urbanise the island. Why imperial ...
The Roman period was Britain's great architectural age, though this is difficult to appreciate from the ruinous state of the sites that survive. This book looks at how in a few years Britain witnessed the design and erection of an astonishing range of buildings, from mundane and functional houses through to temples and civil engineering projects.
The Roman period was Britain's great architectural age, though this is difficult to appreciate from the ruinous state of the sites that survive. This ...
This book examines Roman forts in Britain from the first to the fourth century. It describes the layout of a fort and traces how forts developed from the marching camps thrown up each night by the army on campaign to the almost impregnable strongholds of the Saxon Shore. Forts, fortresses, fortlets, watch-towers and signal stations are in turn examined, and the defences and individual buildings of the fort and its annex analysed. Other chapters deal with how the Roman soldiers built the fort and the life of the men stationed there. A gazetteer of forts worth visiting is included and there is...
This book examines Roman forts in Britain from the first to the fourth century. It describes the layout of a fort and traces how forts developed from ...
Castles were among the most dramatic features of the medieval landscapes of Europe and are still often dominant elements of our surroundings. This book offers an accessible and portable guide to the archaeology and architecture of castles in England and Wales, an area whose castles had some common developments in the medieval period and which now provides numerous and rich sites for both study and visit. In this book the authors explore many recent and exciting developments in the field of castle studies.
Castles were among the most dramatic features of the medieval landscapes of Europe and are still often dominant elements of our surroundings. This boo...
For centuries, stone circles have excited the imagination of their visitors, while archaeologists, astronomers and anthropologists have argued about the purpose of these mysterious abandoned rings. In recent years, accurate surveys of many sites have revealed that these monuments were not simply roughly arranged stone circles, but instead elegantly designed ritual centers. Modern excavations have shown that the earliest circles were erected over five thousand years ago and that sightlines were often built into them towards the sun or moon. Whether in northern Scotland, western Ireland, Wales,...
For centuries, stone circles have excited the imagination of their visitors, while archaeologists, astronomers and anthropologists have argued about t...
Stonehenge was not an observatory used by druidical astronomer-priests, but instead an almighty monument in which the moon, the sun, and the dead were joined together. In this compelling book, archaeological expert Aubrey Burl explains how, more than four thousand years ago, people in the British Isles identified life and death with the cycle of midwinter and midsummer, and with the rising and setting of the sun and moon. It is for this reason that so many megalithic monuments have astronomical sightlines bult into them. This book explores the development of astronomical customes in the...
Stonehenge was not an observatory used by druidical astronomer-priests, but instead an almighty monument in which the moon, the sun, and the dead were...
