Review by Andrew Tibbs.
This invaluable contribution to our knowledge of hillforts is the most complete study on the subject in Britain and Ireland to-date. A long-awaited volume, it sheds much light on these somewhat enigmatic structures, detailing the results of the project of the same name, which ran from 2012 to 2016 (see CA 388). The book is beautifully presented and covers a brief history of hillfort-mapping and the relevant methodologies deployed as part of the project. This is followed by chapters covering the different types of hillfort found within the study areas, details of the different types of enclosing works, the interior layout, and then the challenge of dating such sites. There is useful analysis of the significance of selected clusters of hillforts, and an interesting, detailed discussion on the project findings. Well-written and -illustrated, the Atlas is easy for those without detailed archaeological knowledge to understand. It is highly recommended for anyone interested in the topic or the findings of the original project.
Atlas of the Hillforts of Britain and Ireland, Gary Lock and Ian Ralston, Edinburgh University Press, £150, ISBN 978-1474447126.
