Digging
RECENT ARC-DEC/LOGICAL EXCAVATIONS IN BRITAIN. Edited by R. L. S. Bruce-Mitford. (Routledge and Kegan Paul, 42s.) WE have in recent years had many books popularising the methods and over-all results of archaeology and some books giving a Popular account of work at one important site like Ur or Stone- henge, but never before, I think, a book like this one which Collects together in one place brief chapters on several recent excavations. It was an admirable idea to do this and it has been excellently carried out. Of course, editors propose and contribu- tors dispose, and Mr. Bruce-Mitford has been necessarily limited in his selection of chapters by the availability of writers. This explains, I am sure, the absence of any excavation from Wales, and in Scotland north of Hadrian's Wall and south of Jarlshof. But what he has got is very fine : Grahame Clark on Seamer, Rainbird Clarke on Snettisham, Sir Mortimer Wheeler on Stan- Wick, Ian Richmond on the Mithras Temple at Carrawburgh, and C. W. Phillips on Sutton Hoo—to mention invidiously a few °Iit of the eleven chapters dealing with recent excavations. The editor not only contributes his chapter on Mawgan Porth, but a short interesting introduction, and a note on the law and prac- tice of treasure trove. There is also a chapter by Dr. St. Joseph, on some recent results of air reconnaissance in Britain, thrown in for good measure.
The book is indeed good measure and very high praise must be readily given for its production; it is full of plans, diagrams and photographs, the typography and layout are admirable, and altogether it is a lovely book to handle and read as well as a most valuable book for all those with a growing interest in British archaeology. It could be followed by another of the same kind dealing with the Celtic parts of the British Isles, for excavations in Wales, Ireland and Scotland during the period 1939-55 under review here were equally exciting and interesting. But I think this book can serve a much wider purpose than the circulation of accurate and authoritative archwological informa- tion inside Britain. It is, in its modest and attractive way, a monument to the development of British archaeological technique and to the high standard of excavation and publication now widely practised in Britain. I would like to see a copy of this silent ambassador on the table of every archaeological library in France, Spain and Italy.
GLYN E. DANIEL
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