Description
In this issue:
– The Beaker revolution: Britain’s Bronze Age DNA decoded
– Monastic life in medieval London
– Unearthing Anglo-Norman execution burials
– On manoeuvres with Operation Nightingale
– Digs Guide 2018: where and how to get involved in archaeology this summer
Plus: News, Reviews, Comment, Sherds, Odd Socs, and more!
From the Editor:
Over 4,500 years ago, the Bell Beaker phenomenon swept across much of Europe. The resulting changes to burial practices and technology are clear in the archaeological record, but the origins of these ideas were obscure. Now ancient DNA analysis has revolutionised this picture -and revealed that the impact on the make-up of Britain’s population was no less dramatic than on its material culture.
Excavated human remains are also helping to illuminate another enigma: evidence for early medieval execution cemeteries is relatively rare in this country, but an unusually long-lived example near Andover has revealed invaluable details about sites of this type.
London’s medieval friaries are equally elusive: almost nothing survives above ground, but a study combining maps, archives, and archaeology has reconstructed their stories.
We first reported on Operation Nightingale in 2012 (my first site visit for CA!), and since then the project has gone from strength to strength. The finds it has uncovered, and the benefits it brings to its former service-personnel participants, are inspiring.
If you are feeling inspired to get more involved in archaeology, we have a selection of opportunities in our annual Digs Guide (pp.48-55), as well as full listings (searchable by criteria including cost, historical period, and location) at http://www.archaeology.co.uk/digs.
Finally, after CA Live! we had some useful discussions about making archaeology open to all. I’d like to emphasise that at CA, we’re always glad to hear from people who want to share their research, and we appreciate that a diverse range of voices telling these stories gives a wider perspective on the past. If you have an idea for a feature, a news article, or a talk for a future CA conference, do get in touch – we’re listening.
Carly Hilts
Cover Date: May-2018, Volume 29 Issue 2