Strange Relics: stories of archaeology and the supernatural, 1895-1954

Review by CH Ancient remains and ghostly narratives often coincide in the popular imagination, providing fruitful inspiration for chilling tales. This anthology of 12 short stories has been curated by archaeological historian Amara Thornton, of the University of London, and Classical archaeologist Katy Soar, from the University of Winchester. They begin with an insightful introduction placing the stories within their historical context – from 19th-century tourism to wartime preoccupations and the evolution of archaeology itself – as well as explaining the collection’s aims. Its contents cover a period of almost 150 years, and include writings by such well-known authors as M R Ja