Antiquaries

A life on the tiles: Exploring the work of David Neal as artist and archaeologist

David Neal’s name is synonymous with Romano-British mosaics: since 1960, he has documented every new discovery (more recently in collaboration with Stephen Cosh). His meticulous records and reconstructions fill the five-volume corpus of Roman Mosaics of Britain published by the Society of Antiquaries between 2002 and 2024 (see CA 223). Based on his new autobiography, Chris Catling reports on David’s formative years and the people who led him to a life in archaeology.

The Society of Antiquaries of London is concerned that rising rent may force it to leave Burlington House (below lEFT), potentially endangering its extensive collection, which includes many historically significant objects, including this medieval processional cross (right) and a selection of important 16th century royal portraits (below).

Save Burlington House!

Rising rent may force the Antiquaries to leave Burlington House, potentially endangering its extensive collection, which includes many historically significant objects.

Left Today aerial photography is seen as an indispensable archaeological tool, but it was not always so. Here the mid 1st century AD Roman fortlet at Old Burrow, Devon, is positioned to allow a wide vantage over the Bristol Channel. It was photographed on 12 February 2008.

The past from the air: the origins of aerial photography

Today we take it for granted that aerial photographs are an essential tool for understanding the historic environment, but for the pioneers of aerial photography it was a struggle to gain acceptance, as Chris Catling, who has been reading Martyn Barber’s new book, A History of Aerial Photography and Archaeology, now relates.