The archaeology of wild birds in Britain and Ireland

This article is from Current Archaeology issue 412

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REVIEW BY JULIA BEST

This engaging volume explores human interactions with birds from the end of the last Ice Age to around 1650 AD. An expert in avian zooarchaeology and the social meaning of birds, Serjeantson balances a data-rich exploration of avian zooarchaeology in Britain and Ireland with ecology, modern context, and historical titbits (who knew there was an early medieval riddle about nightingales?). The resulting book is both nuanced and accessible, making it a fascinating read for specialist zooarchaeologists, ornithologists, and casual readers alike. The work is arranged by species-based groupings, along with wider chapters which allow it to be read in sections or as a whole.

Whether you enjoy your birds alive and fluttering, or are interested in their osteoarchaeology and ecology, there is something in this for everyone. Using the lens of these remarkable birds, it will take you from deep time to the recent past, showing the many ways that people have engaged with them, and how we continue to do so.

The archaeology of wild birds in Britain and Ireland
Dale Serjeantson
Oxbow, £60
ISBN 978-1789259568

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