Subscribe now for full access and no adverts
REVIEW BY JODIE LEWIS
This monograph presents the results of excavations at five Bronze Age round barrows located on or near the north Cornish coast, undertaken by the Cornwall Archaeological Unit. Each barrow has a separate chapter, allowing readers to explore them individually. This does lead to some repetition of ideas in the broader interpretations, though this is only noticeable when reading ‘cover to cover’.
The report is brought to life by the actions of people in the past, which are vividly illustrated in descriptions of the white clay used to seal a slate lid on to a full cremation urn, the repeated collection of cobbles from beaches, and the studding and enclosing of mounds with quartz. These details convey the tangible and colourful material world of Bronze Age populations.
This publication is rich in data, well-supported by colour photographs, and well-versed in current ideas and literature. Overall, it makes a valuable contribution to Bronze Age studies and is a welcome addition to literature about the prehistory of South-West England.
Close to the Edge: Excavations of Five Cornish Coastal Barrows
Andy M Jones (ed.)
Archaeopress (£40)
ISBN 978-1803278155
