New Books

New PublicationsIssue 61
Written By Jacob Scott

The Dover Bronze Age Boat

Edited by Peter Clark. English Heritage. 1873592950. £75.00. 464 pages. 198 bw illustrations, 65 tables.

Dated to c.1550BC, the Dover Boat is one of the most spectacular and important prehistoric wooden objects ever found in Europe. This richly illustrated book tells the dramatic story of its discovery and excavation, in addition to the pioneering work in its conservation, re-assembly and display in Dover Museum. As well as a detailed description of the boat itself, the book explores the method of its construction, its original form, capabilities and performance, and its function and place in Bronze Age society. It presents new and innovative techniques for the study of ancient timbers and describes an experiment in building a copy of the boat using replicas of Bronze Age tools.

The Dover Bronze Age Boat

The Dover Bronze Age Boat in Context: Society and Water Transport in Prehistoric Europe

Edited by Peter Clark. Oxbow Books. 1842171139. £30.00. 152 pages. 184 bw figs & plates.

A conference held in Dover in 2002 brought together scholars from all over Europe to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the discovery of the Dover Boat - one of the most important British archaeological finds of the later 20th century. This volume presents 16 papers from the conference, exploring the implications of the discovery for Bronze Age society, water transport and cultural contact in a European context, from the shore of Britain, through northern and central Europe, to the eastern Mediterranean and beyond. Oxbow Books are offering a special pre-publication price of only £80.00 for both Dover boat books if pre-ordered now!

The Archaeology of Sussex to AD 2000

Edited by David Rudling. Published by Heritage Marketing & Publication Ltd for The Centre for Continuing Education, Sussex Institute, University of Sussex. 0-9544456-1-9. £21.00.

A new CCE publication providing comprehensive and up-to-date reviews of the archaeology of Sussex both chronologically and thematically, covering all periods of the human occupation of Sussex from 'Boxgrove Man' c. 500,000 years ago to the post-1945 construction of nuclear shelters. Revising and developing some of the material published in the previous Sussex overview of 1978 - Archaeology in Sussex to AD 1500 - edited by Peter Drewett, it also increases the scope of this earlier volume by including new topics:

  • The archaeological implications of coastal change
  • Shinewater - important Late Bronze Age site on the Willingdon Levels
  • Fishbourne Roman Palace
  • Roman Sussex and its pottery supply
  • Ecclesiastical sites in East and West Sussex
  • Castles and post-medieval defences
  • New Winchelsea - Edward I's planned new town
  • The archaeology of post-medieval Sussex
  • The demographic information offered by churchyards
  • Maritime archaeology and Sussex wrecks

Of interest to a wide range of people including professional and amateur archaeologists, historians, students, landowners, planning and conservation officers and developers, the book will also interest the general public. Available from bookshops or direct from CCE at Essex House, The University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QQ. Cheque payable to 'University of Sussex' for £24.25 (includes £3.25 postage).

Becket's Murderers

Nicholas Vincent. Published by Friends of Canterbury Cathedral & the William Urry Memorial Trust

Becket's Murderers
Jacob Scott